PCT
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY(PCT)
`WO 98/19438
`
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`International Bureau
`
`(51) International Patent Classification 6 :
`H04M 3/50, 3/56
`
`(11) International Publication Number:
`
`Al
`
`(43) International Publication Date:
`
`7 May 1998 (07.05.98)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/SE97 /01772
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`23 October 1997 (23.10.97)
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`9603948-2
`
`29 October 1996 (29.1 0.96)
`
`SE
`
`(71) Applicant: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON
`(pub!) [SE/SE]; S-126 25 Stockholm (SE).
`
`(72) Inventor: GAFFNEY, Kevin; 12, rue Dominique Villars,
`F-38000 Grenoble (FR).
`
`(74) Agent: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON; Patent
`and Trademark Dept., S-126 25 Stockholm (SE).
`
`(81) Designated States: AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR,
`BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, Fl, GB, GE,
`GH, HU, ID, IL, 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, SL, TJ, TM,
`TR, TT, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZW, ARIPO patent (GH,
`KE, LS, MW, SD, SZ, UG, ZW), Eurasian patent (AM, AZ,
`BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), European patent (AT, BE,
`CH, DE, DK, ES, Fl, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL,
`PT, SE), OAPI patent (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN,
`ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
`
`Published
`With international search report.
`Before the expiration of the time limit for amending the
`claims and to be republished in the event of the receipt of
`amendments.
`
`(54) Title: METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR HANDLING OF MULTIMEDIA MESSAGES IN A TELECOMMUNICATION
`SYSTEM
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`The present invention relates to methods and an arrange(cid:173)
`ment (100) for receiving, storing and originating multimedia
`messages. An incoming message is transmitted to an in/out
`interface via a transport network (300). The message is stored
`in a message store (130), translated in a translation unit (150)
`into a format adapted to the presentation capabilities of re(cid:173)
`ceiver's (u) current terminal (400) and delivered to the receiver
`(u) over a user access interface (120) and an access network
`(200) with guidance from a location database (140). Earlier
`received messages, which are kept in the message store, can
`be accessed and edited via any standardised access network
`thanks to media translation in the translation unit (150). A
`multimedia message is originated by a user (u) in the system
`(100) via any access network (200) and the user access inter(cid:173)
`face ( 120). The message is then stored in the message store
`(130), translated in the translation unit ( 150) and delivered to
`the destination through the in/out interface (110) and an ap(cid:173)
`propriate transport network (300).
`
`1
`
`AT&T - Exhibit 1006
`
`

`

`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
`
`AL
`AM
`AT
`AU
`AZ
`BA
`BB
`BE
`BF
`BG
`BJ
`BR
`BY
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`Cl
`CM
`CN
`cu
`cz
`DE
`DK
`EE
`
`Albania
`Armenia
`Austria
`Australia
`Azerbaijan
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`Barbados
`Belgium
`Burkina Paso
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`Belarus
`Canada
`Central African Republic
`Congo
`Switzerland
`Cote d 'Ivoire
`Cameroon
`China
`Cuba
`Czech Republic
`Germany
`Denmark
`Estonia
`
`ES
`Fl
`FR
`GA
`GB
`GE
`GH
`GN
`GR
`HU
`IE
`IL
`IS
`IT
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
`
`KR
`KZ
`LC
`LI
`LK
`LR
`
`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
`
`LS
`LT
`LU
`LV
`MC
`MD
`MG
`MK
`
`ML
`MN
`MR
`MW
`MX
`NE
`NL
`NO
`NZ
`PL
`PT
`RO
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SG
`
`Lesotho
`Lithuania
`Luxembourg
`Latvia
`Monaco
`Republic of Moldova
`Madagascar
`The former Yugoslav
`Republic of Macedonia
`Mali
`Mongolia
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Mexico
`Niger
`Netherlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Singapore
`
`SI
`SK
`SN
`sz
`TD
`TG
`TJ
`TM
`TR
`TT
`UA
`UG
`us
`uz
`VN
`YU
`zw
`
`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Senegal
`Swaziland
`Chad
`Togo
`Tajikistan
`Turkmenistan
`Turkey
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`Uganda
`United States of America
`Uzbekistan
`Viet Narn
`Yugoslavia
`Zimbabwe
`
`2
`
`

`

`wo 98/19438
`
`PCT/SE97/01772
`
`METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR HANDLING OF MUL TIMED lA MESSAGES IN A TELECOMMUNICATION
`SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present
`
`invention relates to methods
`
`in a communication
`
`system which allow messages including multiple message types to
`
`be stored and delivered to and from a variety of terminal types
`
`5
`
`over a plurality of interconnecting networks.
`
`The invention also relates to an arrangement for executing said
`
`methods.
`
`STATE OF THE ART
`
`10
`
`15
`
`A communication system is previously known by US-A-4,837,798 in
`which one single electronic mailbox can receive and store
`different types of messages, such as voice or data messages.
`The message recipient has a single point of contact with the
`system where all messages can be scanned I viewed, which is
`pre-selected by the recipient. If necessary the communication
`system performs media translation from one media to another.
`Furthermore, one individual message may be composed of parts
`that use different native media.
`
`US-A-5,333,266 discloses
`
`a method
`
`and
`
`an apparatus
`
`for
`
`20
`
`integrating mail
`
`from a plurality of mail servers handling
`
`different media types such as text, voice, facsimile, video and
`
`image. Various
`
`terminal
`
`interfaces,
`
`e.g.
`
`computers
`
`or
`
`telephones, can be used to collect, generate and act upon a
`
`message of any media
`
`type. For this purpose
`
`the apparatus
`
`25
`
`comprises translation modules for bi-directional translation
`
`between
`
`speech
`
`and
`
`text
`
`and
`
`between optical character
`
`recognition and text.
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`3
`
`

`

`wo 98/19438
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`
`PCT/SE97/01772
`
`From EP-A- 0, 662,763 is known an integrated electronic message
`
`system for storage and retrieval of electronic messages of
`
`different data types such as voice, video, text or facsimile.
`
`Electronic messages directed
`
`to a specific destination are
`
`5
`
`placed into a single electronic mailbox,
`
`irrespective of the
`
`data type of the electronic message. Each message may consist of
`
`several message bodies, which contain message parts of different
`
`data types. When a stored message is retrieved from a certain
`
`endpoint device the format of the message is adapted as much as
`
`10
`
`possible to what kinds of media the specific endpoint device can
`
`reproduce. If, for instance, the endpoint device is an ordinary
`
`telephone message bodies representing sounds may be presented
`
`directly, text bodies containing converted into voice data and
`
`message bodies carrying video or image data are eliminated.
`
`15
`
`In the solution according to US-A-4,837,798 the recipient only
`
`has one single point of contact with the communication system.
`
`The system is thus
`
`incapable of handling e.g. mobile users
`
`roaming from one point to another. Incoming messages are always
`
`delivered to a default terminal regardless of the user being
`
`20
`
`there or not.
`
`US-A-5,333,266
`
`suggests
`
`a distributed message
`
`translation
`
`system which implies a message translation module in each of
`
`the interconnected networks. All message translation modules
`
`keep a copy of every message sent. This solution consumes
`
`25
`
`considerable
`
`resources
`
`that could be used for alternative
`
`purposes.
`
`The electronic message transfer system of EP-A-0, 662,763 only
`
`translates header and title information. Furthermore, messages
`
`are always pre-translated, i.e. if the presentation capabilities
`
`30
`
`at the current location of a user demands a message
`
`to be
`
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`
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`

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`PCT/SE97/01772
`
`translated before delivery
`
`the message will be
`
`translated
`
`directly and stored centrally in a
`
`translated format. Since
`
`translation is performed when a message is received and not when
`
`a message is actually retrieved some translations may prove to
`
`5
`
`be unnecessary. This is the case, for instance, when a user
`
`before accessing a certain message changes his/her terminal to a
`
`terminal which can access the message in its original format.
`
`DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
`
`10 An object of the present invention is thus to provide one common
`message store which may be accessed not only from one, but from
`multiple terminal and network types.
`
`invention to link the
`the present
`It is another object of
`message store to a user location database, which keeps a record
`of every user's current or latest registered location.
`
`15
`
`A further object of the present invention is to minimise the
`total need for message translation due to limited presentation
`capabilities of one or more specific user terminals.
`
`20
`
`Yet a further object of the present invention is to minimise the
`total need for message translation due to limited transmission
`capabilities of one or more specific
`interconnecting
`tele(cid:173)
`communication networks.
`
`invention
`the present
`These and other objects are met by
`according to which the translation is carried out in accordance
`25 with terminal type-data stored in the location database. The
`automatic translation procedure is complemented by a dynamic
`dialogue between the user and the messaging system. The dynamic
`dialogue gives the user an opportunity to notify the system of
`any additional multimedia presentation capabilities that his/her
`terminal may have and/or to
`inform the system that his/her
`terminal cannot handle a particular media format, but another
`variation of
`this
`format and/or
`to choose an alternative
`
`30
`
`5
`
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`

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`PCT/SE97/01772
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`terminal which he/she may also have access to at his/her current
`location and which is capable of presenting the multimedia
`message in preferred format or formats.
`
`The messaging system of the present invention sees to it that
`
`5
`
`every multimedia message is delivered to the intended recipient
`
`of the message regardless of his/her current location.
`
`Furthermore,
`
`the messaging system according to the
`
`invention
`
`automatically detects the optimal translation of said message
`
`into an alternate media, when message translation is necessary.
`
`10 According to a first aspect of the invention, when a multimedia
`
`message is addressed to a user in the messaging system,
`
`the
`
`incoming message is stored in a multimedia message store. A
`
`first notification signal for this incoming message is diverted
`
`from an address stated in the address field of the message to
`
`15
`
`the messaging system. A second notification signal is then sent
`
`from the messaging system to a
`
`location given by an address
`
`stored. Subsequent to the user being notified of the incoming
`
`multimedia message
`
`by
`
`the
`
`second notification
`
`signal
`
`a
`
`connection is established between the user location and the
`
`20 messaging system. This connection is set up by means of the
`
`dynamic dialogue described above. All parts of the multimedia
`
`message which need and can be translated into another media
`
`format in order to be presented at the current user terminal are
`
`translated accordingly. The translated parts and the parts of
`
`25
`
`the multimedia message that do not need to be translated are
`
`finally transferred to and presented at the user terminal. If
`
`limitations
`
`in
`
`the presentation capabilities of
`
`the user
`
`terminal make it necessary to exclude one or more parts of a
`
`certain multimedia message this fact is preferably indicated to
`
`30
`
`the user along with the presentation of the message. A method
`
`6
`
`

`

`W098/19438
`
`5
`
`PCT/SE97/01772
`
`according
`
`to this first aspect of
`
`the
`
`invention is hereby
`
`characterised by what is apparent from claim 1.
`
`According to a second aspect of the invention, when a user in
`
`the messaging system wishes to review, edit or delete, i.e. act
`
`5
`
`upon,
`
`a specific multimedia message which
`
`is held
`
`in
`
`the
`
`multimedia message store he/she contacts the messaging system
`
`from an arbitrary terminal connected to any telecommunication
`
`network. After
`
`that
`
`the presentation capabilities at
`
`the
`
`particular user
`
`location are established
`
`through a dynamic
`
`10
`
`dialogue between the user and the messaging system. Then the
`
`multimedia message,
`
`translated
`
`into a
`
`format best possibly
`
`suited for the given presentation capabilities,
`
`is delivered
`
`from the messaging system to the user via the above mentioned
`
`network. A method according
`
`to
`
`this second aspect of
`
`the
`
`15
`
`invention is characterised by what is apparent from claim 2.
`
`Naturally, the user is also given an opportunity to perform any
`
`modifications of
`
`the contents of the multimedia message and
`
`store an edited version of the message.
`
`Therefore, according to a
`
`third aspect of
`
`the
`
`invention,
`
`a
`
`20 multimedia message is originated by a user in the messaging
`
`system according to the following procedure. The user connects
`
`to the messaging system from any terminal. The terminal may be
`
`connected
`
`to any
`
`telecommunications network using arbitrary
`
`standardised protocols. First, the multimedia message generation
`
`25
`
`capabilities of the terminal are established through a dynamic
`
`dialogue between the user and the messaging system. Second, a
`
`multimedia message is created by the user and sent
`
`to the
`
`messaging system. Third, the message is stored in the multimedia
`
`message store. Fourth, if the message or parts of the message
`
`3 0
`
`need and can be translated into a
`
`format which is ideally
`
`adapted to the message presentation capabilities given by the
`
`7
`
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`

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`
`PCT/SE97/01772
`
`transmission network to which the receiver is connected and by
`
`the protocol used by the message channel which is delivering the
`
`message such a translation is performed on relevant portions of
`
`the message. Finally the message or the translated message is
`
`5
`
`transmitted to the receiver. A method according to this third
`
`aspect of
`
`the
`
`invention is hereby characterised by what is
`
`apparent from claim 6.
`
`A messaging system for carrying out the above identified aspects
`
`of the invention comprises a multimedia message store where a
`
`10
`
`copy of every message sent to or from the system is kept, a
`
`translation unit for converting every message sent and received
`
`into a message format best possibly suited for the presentation
`
`capabilities of the recipient's current terminal, a database
`
`which stores address references and terminal data for all users
`
`15
`
`in
`
`the
`
`system
`
`and
`
`a
`
`control unit
`
`for controlling
`
`and
`
`coordinating the other units in the system. The messaging system
`
`according to the invention is hereby characterised by what is
`
`apparent from claim 10.
`
`Thus, the proposed solution offers notification to a user when a
`
`20 multimedia message comes in to him/her irrespective of in which
`
`network he/she is located in or if he/she has a subscription in
`
`this network or not.
`
`A user may also access
`
`his/her earlier
`
`received multimedia
`
`messages
`
`from more
`
`than
`
`one
`
`terminal
`
`in
`
`a multiplicity of
`
`25
`
`network environments.
`
`Furthermore,
`
`the
`
`invention provides
`
`recipients of multimedia
`
`messages with as much multimedia
`
`information as possible,
`
`regardless of the terminal type used.
`
`As the term indicates a
`
`multimedia message may include more than one message format. The
`
`30
`
`invention presents message parts of a multimedia message to a
`
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`

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`
`PCT/SE97/01772
`
`recipient
`
`according
`
`to
`
`the
`
`following principle. First,
`
`presenting the as much data in its original format as possible.
`
`Second, translating remaining data into a format adapted to the
`
`presentation capabilities of the user terminal. Third, excluding
`
`5
`
`possible
`
`remaining data
`
`from
`
`the message
`
`to
`
`be
`
`presented.
`
`Preferably,
`
`the
`
`recipient
`
`is notified
`
`of
`
`any
`
`possible
`
`eliminations of one or several parts of a certain multimedia
`
`message due to limitations in the presentation capabilities of
`
`the recipient's current terminal. Since the recipient always has
`
`10
`
`an opportunity to define and adjust earlier definitions of the
`
`presentation capabilities of his/her current
`
`terminal
`
`in a
`
`dynamic dialogue with the system a guarantee is given that every
`
`multimedia message is optimally presented to its recipient.
`
`15
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`
`Figure 1
`
`shows the inventive messaging system interconnected
`
`with other communication systems;
`
`Figure 2
`
`Figure 3
`
`Figure 4
`
`20
`
`25
`
`illustrates the method according to the invention
`when a multimedia message is addressed to a user in
`the suggested messaging system;
`
`illustrates the method according to the invention
`when a user in the suggested messaging system acts
`upon a stored multimedia message;
`
`illustrates the method according to the invention
`when a multimedia message is originated from a user
`in the suggested messaging system.
`
`The invention will now be described in further detail with help
`
`from the preferred embodiments and with reference to enclosed
`
`30
`
`drawings.
`
`9
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`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`In figure 1 is shown a messaging system (100) according to an
`
`embodiment of the invention. The system (100) is interconnected
`
`5 with at least one first accessing network (200) and one second
`
`transport network (300) . A user (u) in the system (100) utilises
`
`the accessing network
`
`(200)
`
`to contact the system (100) via a
`
`terminal
`
`(400) when he/she wishes to originate a multimedia
`
`message or act upon a stored multimedia message. The accessing
`
`10
`
`network
`
`(200)
`
`is also utilised by
`
`the
`
`system
`
`(100)
`
`for
`
`delivering multimedia messages to the users
`
`(u) . The accessing
`
`network (200) and the transport network (300) may be any kind of
`
`communication network such as e.g. a PSPDN
`
`( PSPDN = Packet
`
`Switched Public Data Network)
`
`(210, 310), a CSPDN
`
`(CSPDN =
`
`(210, 310), a TCP/IP(cid:173)
`15 Circuit Switched Public Data Network)
`(TCP/IP = Transmission Control Protocol
`(220, 320), a GPRS- network
`(GPRS = General Packet
`
`network
`
`Protocol)
`
`/
`
`Internet
`
`Radio Service)
`
`(230, 330), a digital radio telephone network
`
`(240, 340), an analogue radio telephone network
`
`(250, 350), a
`
`20
`
`PSTN
`
`ISDN
`
`(PSTN = Public Switched Telephone Network)
`(ISDN = Integrated Services Digital Network)
`a B- ISDN
`(B- ISDN = Broadband ISDN)
`( 270, 3 70) . The
`
`(260, 360), an
`
`(270, 370) or
`
`terminal
`
`(400) can be any kind of terminal with a connection to at least
`
`one of the above mentioned accessing networks (200) . Hence, the
`
`25
`
`terminal
`
`(400) may, for instance, be a desktop computer or a
`
`workstation
`
`(410),
`
`a
`
`laptop computer
`
`(420)
`
`connected
`
`to a
`
`digital mobile telephone through a PCMCIA card or equipped with
`
`a
`
`radio modem,
`
`a
`
`personal digital assistant,
`
`personal
`
`intelligent communicator or network based knowledgable assistant
`
`30
`
`(430), a digital or analogue mobile telephone (440), a regular
`
`10
`
`

`

`W098/19438
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`9
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`PCT/SE97/01772
`
`desk phone, cordless
`
`telephone
`
`(450) or a
`
`facsimile machine
`
`(460).
`
`The messaging system (100) comprises an in/out interface
`
`(110)
`
`which is connected to the transport network(s)
`
`(300) and a user
`
`5
`
`access interface
`
`(120) connected to the accessing network (s)
`
`(200). The system (100) further comprises a multimedia message
`
`store ( 13 0) where copies of all . messages sent to and from the
`
`messaging system
`
`(100) are held and a user location database
`
`(140)
`
`in which the network address of every user
`
`(u)
`
`in the
`
`10
`
`system (100) is registered. A translation unit (150) translates
`
`multimedia messages from at least one first media format into at
`
`least one second media format if the terminals of the originator
`
`and
`
`the recipient of a particular multimedia message have
`
`different message
`
`generation
`
`and message
`
`presentation
`
`15
`
`capabilities, e.g. due to the fact that they are connected to
`
`separate networks
`
`that support different protocols. Message
`
`translation may also be necessary if the originator and the
`
`recipient are connected to the same network but use different
`
`terminal
`
`types,
`
`like e.g. a
`
`regular
`
`telephone
`
`(450)
`
`and a
`
`20
`
`facsimile machine (460) both connected to the PSTN (260, 360) .. A
`
`control unit
`
`(160) controls and supervises all other units
`
`within the messaging system (100).
`
`Figure 2 illustrates the method according to the invention when
`
`a multimedia message
`
`(M)
`
`is addressed (As)
`
`to a user (u) in the
`
`25 messaging system
`
`(100) . The multimedia message
`
`(M)
`
`can be
`
`anything from an ordinary telephone call in PSTN to a multimedia
`
`mail message including hypertexts, voice messages, pictures and
`
`video sequences.
`
`In this example we assume
`
`that the user
`
`(u)
`
`has at least two
`
`30
`
`subscriptions or
`
`network
`
`identities
`
`several
`
`networks
`
`and/or
`
`network
`
`(A1 ,
`A 2 ,
`types.
`
`As)
`
`in one or
`
`Each
`
`of
`
`these
`
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`
`PCT/SE97/01772
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`subscriptions or network identities
`
`(A1 , A2 , A8 ) are possible
`primary addresses for a multimedia message
`(M)
`to the user (u) ,
`
`since an originator of a message
`
`(M) may address it to a
`
`destination identified by any of
`
`the known subscriptions or
`
`5
`
`network identities (A1 , A2 , A8 ) for that user (u).
`
`The user
`
`(u)
`
`is now at a
`
`address
`
`address
`
`location
`
`(SL1 ) which has a first
`(u) either manually registers the
`
`in the messaging system
`
`(A1 ) • When the user
`(SL1 )
`(A1 ) of this location
`(100) or originates a message from this location (SL1 ) via the
`10 messaging system (100) a registration message (R(A1 )) is sent to
`the
`system
`(100). The
`registration message
`(R(A1 )) which
`comprises the user identity (U) , current address data
`(A1 ) and
`if necessary information regarding terminal type and multimedia
`
`presentation capabilities is sent via an accessing network (200)
`
`15
`
`to a user access
`
`interface
`
`(120)
`
`in the system
`
`(100). The
`
`registration message
`
`(R(A1 )) is then stored in a user location
`
`database (140) .
`
`When the multimedia message
`
`(M} addressed
`
`(A8 )
`(u) has a subscription,
`
`to a
`
`location
`
`comes
`
`in an
`
`, where
`
`the user
`
`(SL8 )
`initial notification signal
`
`20
`
`(Pr)
`
`is directed to this location
`
`(SL 8 ) . However,
`according to a piece of information linked to the user identity
`
`the notification signal
`
`(Pr)
`
`is diverted
`
`(U)
`
`indicating that the user
`
`(u)
`
`is located elsewhere. This
`
`information is generated when the user (u) de-registers from a
`
`25
`
`specific location (SL 8 ) and registers at another location (SL1 ) •
`The notification diversion may occur either directly or after a
`
`predetermined no-reply time. A signal (U, M) comprising the user
`
`identity
`
`(U)
`
`and
`
`the multimedia message
`
`(M)
`
`is sent via a
`
`transport network
`
`(300)
`
`to an in/out interface
`
`(110)
`
`in the
`
`30
`
`system (100). The user information (U) is passed on to a control
`
`unit (160), which retrieves location data (LD(A1 )) for the user
`
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`(u)
`
`from the location database
`
`(140) and the message
`
`(M)
`
`is
`
`stored in a multimedia message store (130). This procedure is
`
`controlled by a first control signal (c 1 )
`(160) to the multimedia message store (130) .
`
`from the control unit
`
`5
`
`The location data (LD(A1 )) is utilised by the system (100) when
`sending a notification signal (PL) via the user access interface
`
`(120) and the acc~ssing network (200) to the.user's (u) current
`
`location (SL1 ) . The two addresses
`if the user
`identical
`
`Al)
`
`(As
`
`(A8 and A1 ) may of course be
`(u) now is located at the
`
`10
`
`address
`
`(As) associated with the incoming message
`
`(M) . If the
`
`user
`
`(u) has de-registered
`
`from
`
`the system
`
`( 100)
`
`and not
`
`registered any new network identity the notification signal (PL)
`
`is instead sent to a pre-defined default address. After the user
`
`(u) has replied to the notification signal (PL) a connection is
`
`15
`
`set up between the current user location (SL1 ) and the system
`(100). This connection enables a dynamic dialogue
`(D) between
`
`the user
`
`(u)
`
`and
`
`the
`
`system
`
`(100)
`
`in which
`
`the message
`
`presentation capabilities at
`
`the user
`
`location
`
`are
`
`established. The multimedia message
`
`(M)
`
`is not automatically
`
`20
`
`adapted to a message format . that suits the user's (u) present
`
`terminal type even though this would have been possible. The
`
`reason for this is that the user (u) may also have access to an
`
`alternative terminal whose address has not been registered in
`
`the system
`
`(100) or
`
`the current user
`
`terminal has better
`
`25
`
`presentation capabilities than what appears from the terminal
`
`type registered in the location database (140).
`
`The user
`
`(u) may e.g. have a
`
`combined facsimile/telephone
`
`equipment. If this equipment has been registered as a facsimile
`
`machine and a voice message comes in the user may not want to
`
`30
`
`have the message translated into text. Instead he/she wants it
`
`to be presented via
`
`the
`
`telephone set. Vice versa;
`
`if the
`
`13
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`

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`terminal has been registered as a telephone and a fax message
`
`comes in the user does probably not want to have the message
`
`translated
`
`into a voice signal, but would rather have
`
`it
`
`presented
`
`in
`
`its original
`
`text
`
`format. Nevertheless, all
`
`5 multimedia message data that can be directly presented by the
`
`user's (u) registered terminal is automatically transferred via
`
`the user access interface (120) and the accessing network (200)
`
`to the user's current location (SL 1 ) for presentation.
`
`When the presentation capabilities of the user's
`
`(u)
`
`terminal
`
`10
`
`have been verified the multimedia message
`
`(M)
`
`is forwarded to a
`
`message translation unit (150) for translation of those parts of
`
`the message
`
`(M)
`
`that need and can be translated into a message
`
`format which is intelligible via the user's (u)
`
`terminal. The
`
`translation instructions are included in a second control signal
`
`15
`
`from the control unit (160) to the message translation unit
`
`(c 2 )
`( 150) . A multimedia message
`
`(M') comprising the parts of the
`
`original message
`
`(M) and/or translated parts of the original
`
`message
`
`(M)
`
`that are to be presented at the user's (u) terminal
`
`is then sent to the user access interface (120) . Thereafter the
`
`20 message
`
`(M')
`
`is transferred to the current user location (SL 1 )
`via the accessing network
`(200) and finally presented to the
`
`user (u) .
`
`Figure 3 depicts the method according to the invention when a
`
`user (u) acts upon a multimedia message
`
`(M) which is stored in
`
`25
`
`the multimedia message store
`
`(130). Acting upon a multimedia
`
`message
`
`(M)
`
`is understood to be retrieving, editing and storing
`
`or deleting a given message
`
`(M) .
`
`A registration message
`
`and
`
`terminal data is
`
`(R(A3 )) updating the user's (u) address
`sent to the system
`(100) upon manual
`
`30
`
`registration or after a first message has been originated from a
`
`new
`
`location
`
`(L 3 ) by the user
`
`(u) . The registration message
`
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`
`is forwarded
`
`to
`
`the
`
`(R(A3 ))
`accessing network (200) and the user access interface (120) .
`
`location database
`
`(140) via an
`
`When the user
`
`(u) wishes to retrieve a particular multimedia
`
`message
`
`(M)
`
`from
`
`the multimedia message store
`
`(130) he/she
`
`5
`
`contacts the messaging system
`
`(100) via the accessing network
`
`(200) and the user access interface (120). A dynamic dialogue
`
`(D) between the user
`
`(u) and the control unit
`
`(160)
`
`in the
`
`system
`
`(100) establishes the presentation capabilities of the
`
`current user
`
`terminal. The
`
`specific message
`
`(M)
`
`is
`
`then
`
`10
`
`retrieved from the multimedia message store (130) by means of a
`
`third control signal
`
`multimedia message
`
`(c 3 )
`store
`
`from the control unit
`
`(160)
`
`to the
`
`(130)
`
`and
`
`sent
`
`to
`
`the message
`
`translation unit (150) for translation. The parts of the message
`
`(M)
`
`that need and can be translated into a media format which
`
`15
`
`can be intelligibly presented at the user's
`
`(u)
`
`terminal are
`
`translated into such a format and the message parts that can be
`
`presented directly are passed through the unit (150) unchanged.
`
`The translation instructions are included in said second control
`
`signal
`
`(c 2 )
`translation unit (150) .
`
`sent from the control unit
`
`20
`
`(160)
`
`to the message
`
`A multimedia message
`
`(M') comprising the parts of the original
`
`message
`
`(M) and/or translated parts of the original message
`
`(M)
`
`that are to be presented at the user's (u)
`
`terminal is sent to
`
`the user access interface
`
`(120) and transferred to the user
`
`25
`
`location
`
`reviews
`
`(L3 ) via the accessing network
`the message
`(M')
`and edits desired parts of it. An
`
`(200). The user
`
`(u)
`
`edited multimedia message (m') is sent back to the system (100)
`
`for storage. The edited message (m') is conveyed to the message
`
`translation unit (150) via the accessing network
`
`(200) and the
`
`30
`
`user access
`
`interface
`
`(120). The
`
`translation unit
`
`(150)
`
`translates the multimedia message (m')
`
`into its original format
`
`15
`
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`

`W098/19438
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`PCT/SE97/01772
`
`(m),
`
`i.e.
`
`the
`
`format
`
`in which
`
`the message
`
`(M) was stored
`
`originally, and passes the message
`
`(m) on to the multimedia
`
`message store
`
`( 13 0) . This procedure is effectuated through a
`
`fourth control signal
`
`(c 4 )
`5 message translation unit (150).
`
`from the control unit
`
`(160)
`
`to the
`
`The method according to the invention when a multimedia message
`
`(M)
`
`is originated from a user (u)
`
`in the messaging system (100)
`
`is illustrated in figure 4.
`
`As stated before, a registration message
`
`(R (A5 )) updating the
`user's (u) address and terminal data is sent to the system (100)
`
`10
`
`when the user (u) either manually registers this information or
`
`after a first multimedia message has been originated from a new
`
`(R(A5 ))
`location (L5 ) by the user (u). The registration message
`is forwarded to the location database
`(140) via an accessing
`
`15
`
`network (200) and the user access interface (120) .
`
`When the user (u) wishes to originate a multimedia message
`
`(M)
`
`from said location
`
`(L5 ) via the messaging system
`contacts the messaging system
`(100) via the accessing network
`
`(100) he/she
`
`(200) and the user access interface (120). A dynamic dialogue
`
`20
`
`(D) between the user (u) and the control unit (160) establishes
`
`the message generation capabilities of
`
`the current user
`
`terminal. A multimedia message (M) is then generated in the user
`
`terminal and sent along with a destination address
`
`(Ax)
`
`to the
`
`system (100) via the accessing network (200) and the user access
`
`25
`
`interface
`
`(120) . The message
`
`(M)
`
`is
`
`transferred
`
`to
`
`the
`
`multimedia message store (130) and the destination address
`
`(Ax)
`
`is passed on to the control unit (160) . The control unit (160)
`
`compares the message format given by the originating terminal
`
`and
`
`the message
`
`format used
`
`in
`
`the network
`
`to which
`
`the
`
`30
`
`destination address
`
`(Ax) belongs. If translation of some or all
`
`parts of
`
`the message
`
`(M)
`
`is necessary,
`
`those parts of
`
`the
`
`16
`
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`

`W098/19438
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`
`PCT/SE97 /01772
`
`message that need and can be translated into a message format
`
`intelligible by the addressee are translated into such a format
`
`in
`
`the message
`
`translation unit
`
`(150) . Those parts of
`
`the
`
`message
`
`(M)
`
`that do not need translation pass unchanged through
`
`5
`
`the translation unit (150) and any possible other untranslatable
`
`parts of the message
`
`(M) are not forwarded from the multimedia
`
`message store (130) to the translation unit (150). However 1
`
`if
`
`the multimedia message contains such untranslatable parts the
`
`recipient is informed of the fact along with the message. A
`
`10 multimedia message
`
`(M 1
`
`) 1 comprising the parts of the original
`
`message
`
`(M) and/or translated parts of the original message
`
`(M) 1
`
`is sent to the in/out interface (110) . The receiver address (Ax)
`
`is forwarded by the control unit (160) and associated with the
`
`message
`
`(M 1
`
`) and sees to it that the multimedia message
`
`(M 1
`
`)
`
`is
`
`15
`
`conve