Multimedia messaging method and system

Abstract

A multimedia messaging method and system, wherein the same multimedia message can be used to encapsulate both non-streamable media components and descriptors relating to streamable media components. A recipient extracts the descriptors from the multimedia message and initiates streaming sessions accordingly. The notification process by which a recipient user agent is informed of the availability of a multimedia message is the same regardless the type of the components within the message.

1 . A multimedia messaging service system comprising:
 a first network entity for storing a multimedia message;   a plurality of user agents;   a second network entity for notifying a user agent of a multimedia message available to the user agent, the user agent being a recipient user agent;   a third network entity for searching the multimedia message for a streamable media component, for storing the streamable media component, and for modifying the multimedia message by placing into the multimedia message, a descriptor allowing the recipient user agent to initiate a streaming session to retrieve the streamable media component; and   the second network entity receiving a request for delivering the multimedia message to the recipient user agent and transferring the multimedia message to the recipient user agent responsive to the request, wherein the recipient user agent is configured to separate a non-streamable media component from the multimedia message.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the recipient user agent comprises a wireless user agent. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a memory for storing a multimedia message containing the streamable media component in a communications network entity; 
 a transmitter for sending a multimedia message transmission from the network entity to the recipient user agent; and 
 a unit for including in the multimedia message transmission a descriptor providing information allowing the recipient user agent to initiate a streaming session to retrieve the streamable media component. 
 
     
     
         4 . A method, comprising:
 receiving at a network entity, a multimedia message comprising a non-streamable component and a streamable component;   replacing the streamable component with a descriptor associated with the streamable component, the descriptor enabling initiation of a streaming session to retrieve the streamable component;   transmitting the multimedia message, the multimedia message comprising the non-streamable component and the descriptor associated with the streamable component.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein if the multimedia message comprises additional streamable components, replacing the additional streamable components each with an additional descriptor associated with each of the additional streamable components. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising, determining whether at least one of the non-streamable component and the streamable component of the multimedia message conforms to capabilities of a receiving entity. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising, if the at least one of the non-streamable component and the streamable component of the multimedia message does not conform to the capabilities of the receiving entity, performing at least one of down-conversion and format conversion of a non-conforming aspect of the at least one of the non-streamable component and the streamable component. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the performing of the at least one of down-conversion and format conversion occurs before or during transmission of the multimedia message. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the transmission of the multimedia message occurs subsequent to receiving a request, from a receiving entity, to receive the multimedia message. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the network entity comprises a multimedia messaging relay device. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 transmitting, from a user agent, a request to receive a multimedia message comprising a non-streamable component and a streamable component;   receiving, in response to the request, the multimedia message containing the non-streamable component and a descriptor describing the streamable component, the descriptor having replaced the streamable component; and   initiating a streaming session using the descriptor to one of retrieve and down stream the streamable component of the multimedia message.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising, upon determining additional descriptors are present in the multimedia message, initiating corresponding additional streaming sessions using each of the additional descriptors to one of retrieve and down stream each of the additional streamable components. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising, forwarding at least one of the non-streamable component and the descriptor to at least one external device capable of supporting at least one of the non-streamable component and the streamable component. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the initiating of the streaming session is performed via the at least one external device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising, prior to the initiating of the streaming session, storing the descriptor and delaying the initiating of the streaming session. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
 transmit a request to receive a multimedia message comprising a non-streamable component and a streamable component; 
 receive, in response to the request, the multimedia message containing the non-streamable component and a descriptor describing the streamable component, the descriptor having replaced the streamable component; and 
 initiate a streaming session using the descriptor to one of retrieve and down stream the streamable component of the multimedia message. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code is configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to initiate corresponding additional streaming sessions using each of the additional descriptors to one of retrieve and down stream each of the additional streamable component if it is determined that additional descriptors are present in the multimedia message. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein prior to the initiating of the streaming session, the at least one memory and the computer program code is configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether at least one of the non-streamable component and the streamable component are supported. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein upon a determination that the apparatus is incapable of supporting at least one of the non-streamable component and the streamable component, the at least one memory and the computer program code is configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to forward at least one of the non-streamable component and the descriptor to at least one external device capable of supporting at least one of the non-streamable component and the streamable component. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one external device is allowed to initiate the streaming session, using the descriptor, instead of the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, causing the apparatus to perform the initiating of the streaming session.