USRE45643EExpiredUtilityPatentIndex 45

Messaging service system and method to be performed in such a system

Assignee: VRINGO INFRASTRUCTURE INCPriority: Jun 16, 2000Filed: Jun 16, 2000Granted: Aug 4, 2015

Est. expiryJun 16, 2020(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

Inventors:HALLIKAINEN AARO ROOKE MICHAEL SAVINEN TEPPO MEURONEN TIMO

G06F 3/1285H04N 2201/0015H04N 2201/3278G06F 3/1268H04N 1/32128G06F 3/1238H04N 2201/3242H04N 2201/0034H04N 1/00318G06F 3/1203H04N 1/00838H04N 1/00281

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Claims

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a Messaging Service system which includes one or more Messaging Service terminals and a control means being adapted for communication with a printing means. The Messaging Service terminal is adapted to send a message to the control means, which message contains a print-related information section and a message content section representing the message content. The print-related information section contains print-related information and designates the delivery of the message content section to the printing means or to a second Messaging Service terminal. The system is preferably implemented as a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) system. The message content section may represent one or more images. The print-related information section is preferably contained in a header of the message, and may contain authorization information related to printing or copying rights for printing or copying the message content, preferably the image or images represented by the message content section, by the second Messaging Service terminal.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

The invention claimed is:

1. Messaging Service system including comprising:
at least one first Messaging Service terminal and a control means being adapted for communication with a printing means, the first Messaging Service terminal being adapted to send a message to the control means, the message containing:
a print-related information section; and
a message content section representing the message content, wherein the print-related information section contains print-related information and designates the delivery of the message content section to the printing means, when printing of the message content is desired, and to a second Messaging Service terminal,
wherein the second Messaging Service terminal is adapted to send, when the second Messaging Service terminal desires to print the message content received from the first Messaging Service terminal, a print request to the control means which is adapted to respond thereto by sending a request to the first Messaging Service terminal inquiring on the permission to print, and to decide on the print request based on the answer received from the first Messaging Service terminal.

2. System according to claim 1 which is implemented as a Multimedia Messaging Service system, wherein the first and/or second Messaging Service terminal(s) is/are Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) terminal(s).

3. System according to claim 1 , wherein the message content section represents one or more images.

4. System according to claim 1 , wherein the print-related information section is contained in a header of the message.

5. System according to claim 1 , wherein the print-related information contains authorization information related to printing or copying rights for printing or copying the message content by the second Messaging Service terminal.

6. System according to claim 5 , wherein the authorization information indicates the permission or prohibition to print the message content by the second Messaging Service terminal.

7. System according to claim 5 , wherein the authorization information indicates the maximum allowed number of printing the message content by the second Messaging Service terminal.

8. System according to claim 5 , wherein the control means is adapted to store the authorization information and to check it for print permission when the second Messaging Service terminal sends a print request.

9. System according to claim 1 , wherein the control means comprises a memory for storing the message or message content received from the first Messaging Service terminal and transmitted to the second Messaging Service terminal.

10. System according to claim 1 , wherein the printing means is an external printing station.

11. System according to claim 1 , wherein the message content represents one or more photographs.

12. Method to be performed in a Messaging System, the Messaging System comprising:
at least one first Messaging Service terminal and a control means being adapted for communication with a printing means,
the method comprising:
sending from the first terminal a message to the control means, which message contains:
a print-related information section; and
a message content section representing the message content, the print-related information section containing print-related information and designating the delivery of the message content to the printing means, when printing of the message content is desired, and to a second Messaging Service terminal,
wherein the second Messaging Service terminal sends, when the second Messaging Service terminal desires to print the message content received from the first Messaging Service terminal, a print request to the control means which responds thereto by sending a request to the first Messaging Service terminal inquiring on the print authorization, and by deciding on the print request based on the answer received from the first Messaging Service terminal.

13. Method according to claim 12 , wherein the print-related information section is sent as a header of the message.

14. Method according to claim 12 , wherein the print-related information section contains authorization information related to printing or copying rights for printing or copying the message content by the second Messaging Service terminal.

15. Method according to claim 14 , wherein the authorization information indicates the permission or prohibition to print the image by the second Messaging Service terminal.

16. Method according to claim 14 , wherein the authorization information indicates the maximum allowed number of printing the message content by the second Messaging Service terminal.

17. Method according to claim 14 , wherein the authorization information is stored in the control means, and the stored authorization information is checked for print permission when the second Messaging Service terminal sends a print request.

18. Method according to claim 12 , wherein the control means stores a message or message content received from the first Messaging Service terminal and transmitted to the second Messaging Service terminal.

19. Method according to claim 12 , wherein the message content is printed on an external printing station.

20. Method according to claim 12 , wherein the message content is a photograph.

21. A messaging service system, comprising:
a control means adapted for communication with a printing means, a first messaging service terminal and a second messaging service terminal, the control means further adapted to receive at least one message from the first messaging service terminal, the at least one message comprising:
a first section comprising print-related information; and
a second section representing message content, wherein the first section comprising print-related information designates delivery of the second section representing message content to the printing means, when printing of the message content is desired, and the second messaging service terminal,
wherein, when the first section comprising print-related information designates delivery to the second messaging service terminal, the control means is further adapted to:
a) send the second section representing message content to the second message service terminal;
b) receive a print request from the second message service terminal;
c) send a request to the first messaging service terminal inquiring on permission to print the message content;
d) receive an answer from the first messaging service terminal; and
e) decide on the print request from the second message service terminal based on the answer received from the first messaging service terminal.

22. The messaging service system of claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first and second messaging service terminals comprises a mobile phone.

23. A messaging service system, comprising:
a controller adapted for communication with a printer, a first terminal and a second terminal, the controller further adapted to receive at least one message from the first terminal, the at least one message comprising:
a first section comprising print-related information; and
a second section representing message content, wherein the first section comprising print-related information designates delivery of the second section representing message content to the printer, when printing of the message content is desired, and the second terminal,
wherein, when the first section comprising print-related information designates delivery to the second terminal, the controller is further adapted to:
a) send the second section representing message content to the second terminal;
b) receive a print request from the second terminal;
c) send a request to the first terminal inquiring on permission to print the message content;
d) receive an answer from the first terminal; and
e) decide on the print request from the second terminal based on the answer received from the first terminal.

24. The messaging service system of claim 23 , wherein at least one of the first and second terminals comprises a mobile phone.

25. A method, comprising:
receiving a message from a first terminal, the message comprising a first section comprising print-related information and a second section representing message content, the first section comprising print-related information designating delivery of the second section representing message content to a printer, when printing of the message content is desired, and a second terminal;
when the first section comprising print-related information designates delivery to the printer, printing at least the message content in response to receiving a request to print the message content; and
when the first section comprising print-related information designates delivery to the second terminal:
a) send the second section representing message content to the second terminal;
b) receiving a print request from the second terminal;
c) sending a request to the first terminal inquiring on permission to print the message content;
d) receiving an answer from the first terminal; and
e) deciding on the print request from the second terminal based on the answer received from the first terminal.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the receiving of the message from the first terminal further comprises receiving the message from a mobile phone.

27. An apparatus, comprising:
an electronic device configured to:
receive a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message, the MMS message containing a print-related information section and a message content section representing message content of the MMS message, the print-related information section containing print-related information and designating delivery of the message content; and
when printing of the message content is desired, send a first print request, the first print request being responded to by a second print request sent inquiring on print authorization, and a decision on the first print request based on an answer received regarding the second print request.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the electronic device comprises a second Messaging Service terminal, and wherein the MMS message is received from a first Messaging Service terminal.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the second print request is sent to the first Messaging Service terminal, and wherein the answer is received from the first Messaging Service terminal.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the first print request is sent to a control means adapted for communication with a printing means to which the delivery of the message content is designated, when the printing of the message content is desired.

31. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending print job information to the second Messaging Service terminal indicating at least one printer used for printing, a printing service used for printing, and charging information.

32. The method of claim 12, wherein the print-related information includes an identity of printer.

33. The method of claim 12 further comprising transmitting the content to a printer based on direct indication of printer address from terminal or user profile data.

34. The method of claim 12 further comprising transmitting a confirmation of receipt of the print request to the terminal.

35. The method of claim 12, wherein the print-related information is printing parameters.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the print parameters is at least one of size of print, print quality, print address, and payment method.

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