PCT
`
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`Intematlonal Bureau
`
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(51) International Patent Classification 6 :
`
`(11) International Publication Number:
`
`W0 99/66746
`
`H04Q 7/22
`
`A2
`
`(43) International Publication Date:
`
`23 December 1999 (23.12.99)
`
`(81) Designated States: AE, AL, AM, AT, AT (Utility model), AU,
`AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, CZ
`(Utility model), DE, DE (Utility model), DK, DK (Utility
`model), EE, EE (Utility model), ES, F1, F1 (Utility model),
`GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, 1N, IS, JP, KE,
`KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG,
`MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE,
`SG, SI, SK, SK (Utility model), SL, TJ, TM, TR, "IT, UA,
`UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW, ARIPO patent (GH, GM,
`KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, UG, ZW), Eurasian patent (AM,
`AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), European patent (AT,
`BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU,
`MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI patent (BF, BI, CF, CG, CI, CM,
`GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
`
`Published
`Without international search report and to be republished
`upon receipt of that report.
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/FI99/00518
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`14 June 1999 (14.06.99)
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`981387
`
`15 June 1998 (15.06.98)
`
`Fl
`
`(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): NOKIA
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS OY [Fl/Fl]; Keilalahdentie 4,
`FIN—02150 Espoo (Fl).
`
`(72) Inventors; and
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): MUHONEN, Ahti [Fl/Fl];
`Itiilahdenkatu 5 B 37, FIN—00210 Helsinki (F1). ROOKE,
`Michael [GB/Fl]; Kyyhkysmiiki 4 D 32, FIN—02600 Es-
`poo (Fl). HAUMONT, Serge [FR/Fl]; Riistavuorenkuja 3 B
`10, FIN—00320 Helsinki (FI). HIPPELAINEN, Lassi [Fl/Fl];
`Kajanuksenkatu 7 A l 1, FIN—00250 Helsinki (Fl). KURRO-
`NEN, Kari [Fl/Fl]; Kauppaneuvoksentie 6 B 30, FIN—00200
`Helsinki (Fl). PUUSKARI, Mikko [Fl/Fl]; Angervotie 5 C
`35, FIN—00320 Helsinki (F1). HEINO, Mikko [Fl/Fl]; Kett-
`tulinkatu 15 C 86, FIN—20500 Turku (Fl).
`
`(74) Agent: KOLSTER OY AB; Iso Roobertinkatu 23, P.O. Box
`148, FIN—00121 Helsinki (Fl).
`
`
`
`(54) Title: A METHOD FOR DELIVERING MESSAGES IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM USING THE SAME
`PROTOCOL FOR ALL TYPES OF MESSAGES
`
`
`
`send mullimedie message 10 MS
`
`distinguish MSISDN
`
`
`search for conditions
`
`
`
`
`distinguish message value for conditions
`604
`
`
`
`
`600
`
`601
`
`602
`
`603
`
`621
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`A method and a wireless telecommunications system, a
`message service centre and a mobile station implementing the
`method for transmitting messages between a mobile station
`and a second party. The method of the invention comprises
`the following steps for delivering messages irrespective of
`the presentation thereof:
`delivering messages through the
`same message service centre irrespective of the content type,
`and employing the same protocol between the terminal and
`the message service centre for all messages. The content
`type indicates the presentation of the message contents which
`may include text, speech,
`images, video images or various
`combinations thereof.
`
`305
`
`
`
`607
`9‘
`
`606
`
`certs?
`
`”“mmmmms‘a‘”
`
`"°
`622
`
`623
`
`62 -
`
`retrieve message from memory
`
`
`divide?
`no
`
`lndicale as last one
`
`8
`
`20
`
`positive?
`YES
`
`.
`receive acknowledgement
`,1,
`
`no
`
`posmve?
`
`you
`
`609
`
`610
`
`m
`
`51g
`
`616
`no
`
`send next segmenl
`.
`eoeive acknowledgement
`
`,
`
`812
`613
`
`615
`
`614
`
`AT&T - Exhibit 1009
`
`SOLOCRON_PRIOR_ART 00018670
`
`1
`
`AT&T - Exhibit 1009
`
`

`

`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
` AL
`
`AM
`AT
`AU
`AZ
`BA
`BB
`BE
`BF
`30
`BJ
`BR
`BY
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`CI
`CM
`CN
`CU
`CZ
`DE
`DK
`EE
`
`KR
`KZ
`LC
`LI
`LK
`LR
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
`LS
`Lesotho
`SI
`Slovenia
`Albania
`ES
`LT
`SK
`Armenia
`FI
`Lithuania
`Slovakia
`LU
`SN
`FR
`Austria
`Senegal
`Luxembourg
`LV
`GA
`Latvia
`SZ
`Swaziland
`Australia
`TD
`GB
`Monaco
`MC
`Chad
`Azerbaijan
`MD
`GE
`TG
`Togo
`Republic of Moldova
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`MG
`Barbados
`GH
`TJ
`Madagascar
`Tajikistan
`MK
`TM
`Turkmenistan
`GN
`The former Yugoslav
`Belgium
`TR
`Burkina Faso
`GR
`Republic of Macedonia
`Turkey
`Mali
`TT
`HU
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Bulgaria
`[E
`UA
`Ukraine
`Benin
`Mongolia
`Brazil
`[L
`UG
`Mauritania
`Uganda
`Belarus
`[S
`US
`United States of America
`Malawi
`Canada
`IT
`UZ
`Mexico
`Uzbekistan
`VN
`Viet Nam
`JP
`Central African Republic
`Niger
`KE
`Netherlands
`YU
`Congo
`Yugoslavia
`ZW
`KG
`Switzerland
`Zimbabwe
`Norway
`COte d’lvoire
`KP
`New Zealand
`Cameroon
`Poland
`China
`Portugal
`Cuba
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Czech Republic
`Sudan
`Germany
`Denmark
`Sweden
`Estonia
`Singapore
`
`Spain
`Finland
`France
`Gabon
`United Kingdom
`Georgia
`Ghana
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Israel
`Iceland
`Italy
`Japan
`Kenya
`Kyrgyzstan
`Democratic People's
`Republic of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakstan
`Saint Lucia
`Liechtenstein
`Sri Lanka
`Liberia
`
`ML
`MN
`MR
`MW
`MX
`NE
`NL
`NO
`NZ
`PL
`PT
`R0
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SG
`
`
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`SOLOCRON_PRIOR_ART 00018671
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`2
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`

`

`WO 99/66746
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`PCT/FI99/00518
`
`A METHOD FOR DELIVERING MESSAGES IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM USING THE SAME
`PROTOCOL FOR ALL TYPES OF MESSAGES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates to a messaging service in a wireless tele-
`
`communications system enabling the transmission of various message types,
`
`5
`
`such as text, images, speech, video images or other data or combinations
`
`thereof from a sender to a recipient using the same transmission mechanism,
`
`and more particularly to a messaging service in a mobile communications
`
`system.
`
`Mobile communications systems have been developed since a
`
`10
`
`need has arisen for people to freely move away from fixed terminals without
`
`making it more difficult to reach them. Services offered through mobile stations
`
`have improved with the mobile communications systems. Various new forms
`
`of services are currently being created for what are known as the third genera—
`
`tion mobile communications systems, such as the Universal Mobile Telecom—
`
`15 munications System (UMTS) and lMT-ZOOO (International Mobile Telecommu—
`
`nications 2000), and for current mobile communications systems, such as the
`
`Pan-European mobile communications system GSM (Global System for Mo-
`
`bile communications),
`
`including the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
`
`currently being standardized in the GSM phase 2+ in ETSI (European Tele-
`
`20
`
`communications Standard institute).
`
`The GPRS service is used for providing packet data transmission
`
`between mobile data terminals and external data networks, since the GSM
`
`network functions as an access network. One of the conditions set for the
`
`GPRS service is that it must operate together with various external data net-
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`25
`
`works, such as the Internet or X.25 networks. The GPRS service and the GSM
`
`network should therefore be able to serve all users, irrespective of the type of
`
`data networks they wish to be connected to through the GSM network. This
`
`means that the GSM network and GPRS service must support and process
`
`different network addressing methods and data packet formats. The data
`
`30
`
`packet processing also comprises routing of packets in a packet radio net-
`
`work.
`
`ln addition, the users should be able to roam from their home GPRS
`
`network to a visited GPRS network, whose operator backbone network may
`
`support a different protocol (for example CLNP) than the home network (for
`
`example X25).
`
`SOLOCRON_PRIOR_ART 00018672
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`WO 99/66746
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`2
`
`Known messaging services include short message services and
`voice mail services. Text messages can be sent as short messages. Voice
`mail services are in general answering services transmitting voice messages.
`However, a drawback is that neither of said services enable the transmission
`of images or video images, not to mention the transmission of messages in-
`cluding multimedia. Another problem is that a text message is sent to a differ-
`ent service centre than a voice message. Still another problem is that the size,
`or the duration, of at least a voice message is limited.
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`35
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`it is an object of the invention to provide a method and an appara—
`tus implementing the method so as to solve the above problems. The objects
`of the invention are achieved with the method, system, service centre and mo-
`bile station, characterized by what is disclosed in the independent claims. The
`preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent
`claims.
`
`The invention is based on the idea to concentrate the transmission
`of messaging services into one logical service centre in such a manner that a
`message can be sent from a sender to a recipient through the service centre
`irrespective of the contents or size of the message. The message may contain
`text, images, speech, video images, other data or combinations thereof. From
`hereafter such a message will be referred to as a multimedia message. Here
`the term multimedia message refers to the content type of the message,
`meaning that the contents of the message can be represented in a number of
`ways. The contents may include only text, only speech, text and images, video
`images and speech, video images including speech and text.
`The invention provides the advantage that different types of mes-
`sages can be delivered to the recipient through one service centre. Another
`advantage of the invention is that messages including images, video images
`and multimedia can be sent to a mobile station. A further advantage of the in-
`vention is that the size of the multimedia messages does not have to be re—
`
`stricted in any way.
`in a preferred embodiment of the invention only a message fulfilling
`certain conditions is sent directly to the terminal, i.e. to the recipient. This em-
`bodiment provides the advantage that the recipient can decide when he/she
`
`SOLOCRON_PRIOR_ART 00018673
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`WO 99/66746
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`PCT/F199/00518
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`3
`
`wants to receive a multimedia message. This is a particularly useful property
`
`especially when large multimedia messages are concerned.
`In another preferred embodiment of the invention the user of the
`mobile station can update the conditions of a direct delivery. This embodiment
`also provides the advantage that the recipient can decide what kind of mes—
`sages he/she wants to receive as direct deliveries.
`In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the properties of
`the terminal are employed in the direct delivery conditions. This embodiment
`provides the advantage that such messages are not delivered to the recipient
`that he/she cannot open with a terminal in use.
`In another preferred embodiment of the invention the multimedia
`message service centre changes the message contents into a mode sup-
`ported by the terminal. This embodiment also provides the advantage that the
`sender does not have to know, for example, what kind of image coding the
`recipient terminal supports. Furthermore, the recipient receives messages that
`
`his/her terminal supports.
`In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the multimedia
`message service centre packs the message contents. This embodiment has
`the advantage that the amount of data to be transferred can be minimized,
`
`thus saving network resources.
`In a still further preferred embodiment of the invention the multime-
`dia message service centre selects a delivery route for the message based on
`certain conditions. This embodiment also provides the advantage that the
`message is transferred by employing the best possible route taking the con-
`tents into account.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`in
`In the following the invention will be described in greater detail
`connection with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompany-
`
`ing drawings, in which
`Figure 1 illustrates a telecommunications system of a first preferred
`
`embodiment,
`Figure 2 shows signalling associated with MMS-context activation,
`Figures 3, 4 and 5 show signalling according to a protocol needed
`for transferring a multimedia message in a first preferred embodiment,
`Figure 6 is a flow chart showing how a multimedia message service
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`SOLOCRON_PRIOR_ART 00018674
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`WO 99/66746
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`PCT/FI99/00518
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`4
`
`centre operates in a first preferred embodiment,
`Figure 7 illustrates a multimedia message service centre of the in—
`venfion,and
`Figure 8 illustrates a mobile station of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`In the following the preferred embodiments of the invention will be
`described by means of GPRS packet radio networks without restricting the
`invention to such a particular packet radio system. The invention can be ap-
`plied to all wireless data transmission networks that support at least two differ—
`ent message types.
`In particular, the invention can be applied to what are
`known as the third generation mobile communications systems UMTS and
`lMT-ZOOO supporting, for example, the transmission of video images. It should
`be noted that a packet radio network offers only a physical connection be—
`tween a multimedia message service centre and a service recipient, and the
`exact functionality and structure thereof are not significant for the invention.
`The definitions concerning mobile communications systems in general and the
`GPRS service in particular improve rapidly. Placing different functionalities into
`network elements may vary, which is why all words and expressions should be
`interpreted broadly, as they are intended to describe not to restrict the inven-
`tion.
`
`Figure 1 illustrates a GPRS packet radio service implemented in the
`GSM system, where the GSM network offers circuit-switched data transmis—
`sion, whereas the GPRS service offers packet—switched data transmission. As
`for the invention, Figure 1 shows the most important elements and functions.
`The basic structure of the GSM network comprises two parts, a
`base station subsystem (888) and a network subsystem (N88). The base sta-
`tion subsystem 883 and mobile stations MS communicate through radio con-
`nections 1. The network subsystem comprises at least one mobile switching
`centre MSC, at least one visitor location register VLR and a home location
`register HLR. The function of the mobile switching centre is to switch calls In—
`cluding at least one mobile station MS. Some mobile switching centres MSC
`are connected to other telecommunications networks, such as a public
`switched telephone network 5 (PSTN),
`including transmission functionalities
`for switching calls to and from these networks. The visitor location register
`VLR is generally connected to a mobile switching centre MSC but it may also
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`SOLOCRON_PRIOR_ART 00018675
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`W0 99/66746
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`PCT/FI99/00518
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`5
`
`serve several centres. When a mobile station MS is active in the GSM network
`(it has registered into the network and can start or receive a call) most of the
`subscriber data concerning the mobile station MS in the home location register
`HLR is loaded (copied) into the visitor location register VLR of the mobile
`switching centre M80, in which area the mobile station MS is. For a more de-
`tailed description of the GSM system reference is made to the ETSl/GSM rec-
`ommendations and to the book "The GSM System for Mobile communica-
`tions", M. Mouly and M. Pautet, Palaiseau, France, 1992, ISBN22—9507190-07-
`7.
`
`In Figure 1 the GPRS service connected to the GSM network com-
`prises one GPRS network having one serving GPRS support node SGSN and
`one GPRS gateway support node GGSN. These different support nodes
`SGSN and GGSN are interconnected by an intra-operator backbone network 2
`(GPRS Backbone). It should be understood that the GPRS network may com-
`prise any number ot support nodes and gateway support nodes.
`The serving GPRS support node SGSN is a node serving a mobile
`station MS. Each support node SGSN manages the packet data service in the
`area of one or more cells in a cellular packet radio network. For this purpose,
`each support node SGSN is connected to a particular local part of the GSM
`mobile communications system. This connection is typically made to the base
`station subsystem 888, and generally to a base station controller in the BSS.
`The mobile station MS in a cell communicates with a base station across a
`radio interface 1 and further through the base station controller with the sup—
`port node SGSN to whose service area the cell belongs. In principle, the mo—
`bile communications network between the support node SGSN and the mobile
`station MS only transmits packets between the two. For this purpose, the mo-
`bile communications network ofiers transmission of packet-switched data
`packets between the mobile station MS and the serving support node SGSN.
`The GPRS gateway support node GGSN connects the GPRS net-
`work of the operator with other GPRS services of the operators and with data
`networks 5, such as the IP network (Internet, Intranet) or X25 network. The
`GGSN comprises routing information of GPRS subscribers, or the SGSN ad-
`dresses. The SGSN and GGSN functions can be connected to the same
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`physical node.
`The home location register HLR of the GSM network includes the
`GPRS subscriber data, the telephone number MSlSDN (Mobile Subscriber
`
`SOLOCRON_PRIOR_ART 00018676
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`WO 99/66746
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`PCT/FI99/00518
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`6
`
`international ISDN number) of the mobile station subscriber and the routing
`
`information connecting the international mobile subscriber identity IMSI of the
`
`subscriber with said data. The GPRS subscriber data includes PDP-contexts
`
`and default GGSNs and addresses thereof, for example as IP addresses.
`
`In
`
`addition, the home location register HLR of the invention can maintain an ad—
`
`dress list for each subscriber in its registers, the address list comprising the
`
`address of the multimedia message service centre where a multimedia mes-
`
`sage is waiting for delivery to the mobile station. The list is maintained in the
`
`same way as the address list of short message service centres SMSC. Fur-
`thermore, the HLR can alert the multimedia message service centre MMSC in
`
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`the same way as the short message service centre, when the subscriber reg-
`
`isters into the network. Hence, the HLR ”considers” the multimedia message
`
`service centre MMSC as merely a new network element and is able to perform
`
`the functions required by the invention by employing current routines. Only
`additional memory is needed. The home location register HLR of a roaming
`mobile station MS can be placed in another mobile communications network
`
`than the serving SGSN.
`An intra-operator backbone network 2' interconnecting the operator
`equipment SGSN and GGSN can be implemented, for example, by a local
`network, such as the IP network.
`It should be noted that it is also possible to
`
`implement the operator GPRS network without the intra-operator network, for
`
`example by implementing all the features in one computer.
`
`An inter—operator GPRS backbone network 3 is a data network
`
`through which the gateway support nodes GGSN of different operators can
`communicate with one another.
`
`Here a mobile station MS generally refers to an entity composed of
`
`a mobile station subscriber and an actual terminal. The terminal can be any
`
`terminal that is able to communicate in a mobile communications system or a
`
`combination of several terminals, like a multimedia computer, to which, for ex-
`
`ample, a card phone manufactured by Nokia is connected in order to establish
`a mobile-like connection. The subscriber is identified from a subscriber identifi-
`
`cation module SIM detachably connected to the terminal. As the identification
`
`module is detachable, the subscriber may change terminals and use a termi-
`
`nal that is best suitable for each purpose. The mobile station of the invention is
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`35
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`described in greater detail below in Figure 8.
`
`SOLOCRON_PRIOR_ART 00018677
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`W0 99/66746
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`7
`
`For short message service the system comprises a short message
`
`service centre SMSC and a short message service gateway SMSGW. The
`
`short message service gateway SMSGW transmits short messages to and
`from a mobile station.
`
`The system of the invention comprises a multimedia message
`
`service centre MMSC for multimedia message service MMS. The multimedia
`
`message service centre MMSC is not necessarily one entity but can be com—
`
`posed of functionalities decentralized into different units. Hereafter the multi—
`
`media message service centre MMSC will, however, for clarity be treated as
`
`one entity. The MMSC forwards multimedia messages and stores and resends
`
`multimedia messages, which have not been delivered. The multimedia mes—
`
`sage service centre MMSC can preferably receive a multimedia message to
`be delivered to a mobile station through any network. The operator can,
`if
`
`he/she desires, restrict such delivering networks to certain network types only,
`
`for example to public and private lP networks. The operation, structure and
`interfaces of a multimedia message service centre will be explained below in
`
`Figure 7. Figure 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the invention, where
`the multimedia message service centre MMSC is directly connected to the in—
`
`in which case it functions also as a GPRS
`tra-operator backbone network 2,
`gateway support node. In the first preferred embodiment the multimedia mes—
`sage service centre communicates with the home location register HLR and
`the short message service centre SMSC, a data network 4 and the public
`
`switched telephone network 5. These connections are either direct signalling
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`connections or signalling connections implemented through an internal net-
`work.
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`
`In a mobile communications network the home and visitor location
`
`registers are used substantially in the same way for routing multimedia mes-
`sages as for routing calls or short messages. in the first preferred embodiment
`
`the multimedia message route is generally the following: multimedia message
`
`30
`
`service centre MMSC - intra-operator backbone network 2 - serving support
`
`node SGSN — base station subsystem 888 - mobile station MS. A GPRS air
`
`interface is then used as a radio interface. Air interfaces, such as W—CDMA,
`
`defined in the third generation systems can also be used as the radio inter-
`face. The advantage of this embodiment is the rapid delivery of the multimedia
`
`35
`
`message. Another advantage is that the solution does not load the circuit-
`
`switched network part.
`
`SOLOCRON_PRIOR_ART 00018678
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`8
`
`The solution according to the first preferred embodiment can also
`support the loading of the multimedia message to the mobile station using cir-
`cuit switching,
`in which case the delivery route is, for example, the following:
`multimedia message service centre MMSC - public switched telephone net—
`work 5 — mobile services centre MSCNLR — base station subsystem BSS —
`mobile station MS. The GSM air interface or air interfaces defined in the third
`generation systems, such as EDGE, are then used as the radio interface.
`In a second preferred embodiment (not shown in the Figure) the
`multimedia message service centre is connected to the short message service
`gateway SMSGW. The multimedia message service centre communicates
`with the data networks 4 and possibly with the public switched telephone net-
`work 5. In the second preferred embodiment the multimedia message route is
`in general the following: multimedia message service centre MMSC - short
`message service gateway SMSGW — serving support node SGSN — base sta—
`tion subsystem BSS - mobile station MS. An advantage with this solution is
`that message transmission can utilize the current concatenation of short mes-
`sages and no major changes need to be made to the system. Another advan-
`_ tage with the solution is that multimedia messages can be delivered as normal
`short messages through a mobile switching centre MSC, if no GPRS connec-
`tion is available. However, the transmission of messages is then considerably
`slower than when using a GPRS connection. In the solutions according to the
`second preferred embodiment the multimedia message service centre MMSC
`can be integrated to a short message service centre SMSC.
`In a third preferred embodiment (not shown in the Figure) the mul-
`timedia message service centre MMSC is connected to a gateway support
`node GGSN through the intra—operator backbone network 2 or the inter—
`operator backbone network 3. The multimedia message service centre com-
`municates with the data networks 4 and possibly with the public switched tele-
`phone network 5.
`ln the third preferred embodiment the multimedia message
`route is in general the following: multimedia message service centre MMSC -
`GPRS gateway support node GGSN - serving support node SGSN — base sta-
`tion subsystem BSS - mobile station MS. The solution provides the advan-
`tages that a multimedia message can be delivered rapidly, the circuit-switched
`network is not loaded, multimedia messages can also be delivered to fixed IP
`addresses and the multimedia message service centre does not necessarily
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`need an 887 protocol stack. In addition, the network does not require new in—
`terfaces.
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`A multimedia message entity MME can be any means enabling
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`messages to be sent and/or received. The most simple MME can transmit
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`only, for example, speech or text, whereas a complex MME can transmit video
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`images including text and speech. The MME can be a mobile station, an entity
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`connected directly to the multimedia message service centre or an application
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`sending a multimedia message through the data network 4. The sending mul—
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`timedia message entity and the users thereof must be identifiable as accu-
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`rately as the billing requires in the embodiments in which the sender pays for
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`the transmission of the message.
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`When the mobile station MS makes attach to the GPRS network,
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`i.e.
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`in connection with a GPRS Attach procedure, the SGSN forms a mobility
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`management context (MM-context) comprising information associated with, for
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`example, the mobility and safety of a mobile station MS. Correspondingly,
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`in
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`connection with a PDP activating procedure the SGSN forms a PDP—context
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`which is used for routing purposes within the GPRS network with the GGSN
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`that the GPRS subscriber employs. Since the multimedia message service
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`centre MMSC operates in the first and second preferred embodiments as the
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`gateway support node GGSN for the multimedia messages, a context can cor-
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`respondingly be activated between the mobile station and the multimedia
`message service centre, what can be called a multimedia message service
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`context (MMS-context). When said context is activated the mobile station can
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`receive and send multimedia messages. An alternative for activating the MMS-
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`context is that the MMSC sends a multimedia message without separately ac-
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`tivating the context. Then the MMSC requests for routing instructions from the
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`home location register HLR and upon reception thereof sends a particular
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`message (MMS Datagram) to the SGSN, which finds a user within the area on
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`the basis of the MSISDN number or the lMSl and sends said message over
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`the radio interface to the mobile station MS. The mobile station MS acknowl-
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`edges the message by sending a reply message (MMS Datagram Acknowl-
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`edge). This alternative solution requires that the MMSC, SGSN and MS are
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`constantly ready to receive multimedia messages, even if a particular context
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`is not activated. In addition, new datagrams (messages resembling the signal—
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`ling messages) have to be defined into GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol) and
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`SNDCP (Subnetwork Convergence Protocol) protocols. Furthermore, an
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`NSAPl value informing the recipient that a multimedia message is concerned
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`has to be allocated for the transmission of multimedia messages. A tunnel
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`identifier (TlD) used in the GTP protocol can be composed of the user IMSl
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`and the NSAPl value allocated to multimedia messages. Based on this infor-
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`mation the SGSN knows that a multimedia message is concerned and finds
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`the user even if it does not know the MSlSDN number thereof. When the MS
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`wishes to send a multimedia message, it uses corresponding messages in the
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`uplink direction. The MMSC can be identified using an APN or in some other
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`way.
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`The multimedia message context activation is carried out, for ex-
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`ample, using the signalling shown in Figure 2, where, the mobile station MS
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`sends an activate PDP—context request (ActivatePDPContextRequest) to the
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`serving support node SGSN in message 2-1. The message includes at least
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`an access point name APN allowing to identify the multimedia message serv—
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`ice centre and an indication of the desire to activate a multimedia context.
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`Other means than the APN for indicating an address can also be used as the
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`multimedia message service centre address. What is essential is that the mul-
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`timedia message service centre is identified in some way.
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`In addition, mes-
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`sage 2-1 may include information about how much memory the mobile station
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`has available for multimedia messages, what kind of data the mobile station
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`supports (text, images, speech) and the presentation format thereof. Further-
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`more, the message may include values for some condition parameters. A
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`separate message that can be sent anytime can be employed for adjusting
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`condition parameters. The condition parameters will be described in greater
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`detail below in Figure 7. After receiving a message the sewing support node
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`SGSN and the mobile station MS perform authentication signalling according
`
`to prior art in messages 2—2 (Security functions). When the authentication is
`
`performed the serving support node SGSN sends a create PDP-context re-
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`quest (CreatePDPContextRequest) to the multimedia message service centre
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`MMSC in message 2-3, to which the service centre replies by sending a create
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`PDP-context response (CreatePDPContextResponse) to the serving support
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`node in message 2-4. The serving support node SGSN transmits an accep-
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`tance to the mobile station M8 by sending an activate PDP-context accep—
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`tance (ActivePDPContextAccept) in message 2-5. After this the context to the
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`multimedia message service centre MMSC is activated from the mobile sta—
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`tion, and the mobile station can send and receive multimedia messages
`
`through the multimedia message service centre.
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`The multimedia service context activation shown in Figure 2 may
`
`occur always when the mobile station makes attach to the GPRS network, the
`
`signalling in Figure 2 then being a part of network attachment signalling. Alter-
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`natively the user may activate the multimedia service context when desired or
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`activation may occur as a consequence of an activation request received from
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`the GPRS network (GPRS network requested PDP-context activation). The
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`activation request can be generated by, for example, a multimedia message
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`service centre,
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`if it observes that the message has to be delivered to such a
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`mobile station that has not activated the MMS—context.
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`If the mobile station
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`activates the MMS-context always when it makes attach to the network, the
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`multimedia message service centre MMSC is automatically informed about the
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`mobile station being in the network again, and a separate "alarm system” like
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`the one implemented in connection with short message service is not neces-
`
`sarily needed.
`in an embodiment where the multimedia message is transferred
`
`along a circuit—switched route or through the conventional GSM network, the
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`MMS—context does not necessarily have to be activated.
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`in a third preferred embodiment of the invention the MMS-context is
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`created through the GGSN node. in which the PDP-context has to be activated
`
`in accordance with prior art. Then the MMS—context does not have to be acti-
`vated.
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`Figure 3 shows signalling according to a protocol needed for trans-
`ferring a multimedia message in the first preferred embodiment. A specific
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`protocol is needed for transferring multimedia messages between the multi-
`
`media message service centre and the mobile station. The protocol is overly-
`
`ing the actual transmission protocols. For example, in the mobile station MS
`the protocol overlies the SNDCP protocol and the GTP protocol in the multi—
`media message service centre MMSC. It is assumed in the example shown in
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`Figure 3 that the MMS-context in the receiving mobile station is activated.
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`Since the MMS—context is activated, the multimedia message service centre
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`MMSC comprises up—to—date routing information, because the SGSN informs
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`the MMSC as ”other" gateway support nodes GGSN about the movem