Messaging Server Format Conversion for Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in communicating across different messaging services and formats, as improvements in multimedia messaging often lead to incompatibilities with older services, resulting in delayed or failed message delivery.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of 'Originated-As' and 'OK-To-Convert-To' message header fields allows a messaging server to dynamically convert data message formats, enabling seamless communication between various messaging services by indicating the origin format and the desired conversion format within message headers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If messaging services improve multimedia messaging capabilities, then user experience is enhanced, but compatibility with older messaging services deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a message server as an intermediary component that sits between users with different messaging service capabilities. This server receives messages from one user, determines the capability mismatch, and automatically converts the message format to ensure compatibility with the recipient's older messaging service. The server acts as a mediator that transparently handles format conversion, allowing advanced multimedia messaging features while maintaining backward compatibility with legacy services.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes message format parameters based on the recipient's capabilities. The message server examines the recipient's messaging service version and capability profile, then transforms the message content, format, and structure parameters accordingly. This allows the same message to be delivered in different formats (e.g., converting rich multimedia messages to text-only or simplified formats) to ensure compatibility across different messaging service versions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If message format conversion is implemented, then interoperability between messaging services is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The message server is designed as a universal platform that handles multiple messaging service protocols and formats simultaneously. Rather than implementing separate conversion systems for each messaging service pair, the server provides a unified interface that can convert between any combination of messaging formats. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single system rather than requiring multiple specialized conversion components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary capability assessment and format determination before message transmission. The message server proactively queries the recipient's messaging service capabilities and pre-determines the appropriate format conversion needed. This preliminary action prevents compatibility issues from arising during message delivery and avoids the need for complex real-time conversion logic during the actual message transmission process.
3Reliability
If dynamic format conversion is performed, then message delivery success rate is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The message server performs capability assessment and format conversion planning in advance, before the actual message conversion process. By pre-determining the appropriate format based on recipient capabilities and maintaining cached conversion templates, the system minimizes the time required for actual message conversion. This preliminary preparation ensures that format conversion can be executed quickly and efficiently when a message needs to be delivered.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses template-based conversion where common format transformations are pre-defined and stored as conversion templates. When a message needs conversion, the server matches the required transformation to an existing template and applies it, rather than performing complex real-time conversion from scratch. This copying approach significantly reduces processing time for routine format conversions while maintaining high delivery success rates.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for converting data message formats in a message server is provided. The message server receives a first data message including origin format information from a first user. The message server then sends the first data message including origin format information to a second user. The message server receives a second data message from a second user, the second data message including the origin format. The second data message is converted to the origin format if the first user is unable to receive the second data message. The message server then sends the converted second data message to the first user.