MMS Message Field for Application-Specific Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protocols for Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages in wireless network communication systems do not allow easy billing for the use of new applications that provide rich text and multimedia content, such as location and bar code services, as they lack a mechanism to identify the type of user application supplying the content.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a field within the MMS message, such as the Class Of Service field or MMS User App field, to indicate the type of user application that supplies the content, allowing the wireless network communication system to generate and process this information, enabling accurate billing for services provided.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current MMS protocols are used without modification, then message transmission functionality is maintained, but billing capability for new applications is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds a Class Of Service field within the existing MMS message structure, nesting the billing information inside the standard message protocol. This allows the billing functionality to be contained within the existing message framework without requiring complete protocol redesign, thus improving adaptability while limiting complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the MMS message into distinct functional components, including a separate Class Of Service field that identifies the application type. This segmentation allows the billing information to be extracted and processed independently from the message content, enabling billing capability without disrupting the overall message transmission functionality.
2Measurement precision
If a field indicating user application type is added to MMS messages, then billing accuracy is improved, but message protocol complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a specific Class Of Service field with distinct values for different application types (e.g., GPS location, bar code) within the MMS message structure. This localized addition provides precise application identification where needed without complicating the entire message protocol, as the field is integrated into the existing message format with defined values.
3Productivity
If existing MMS protocols are used, then protocol simplicity is maintained, but revenue generation from new applications is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the MMS message structure multi-functional by incorporating the Class Of Service field that serves both message transmission and billing identification purposes. This single field enables the protocol to handle both traditional messaging and new application services, allowing revenue generation from diverse applications while maintaining relatively simple implementation through a unified message structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless mobile communication device may include a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit MMS messages over a wireless network communication system. The device may also include a plurality of user applications. Each user application may be of a different type and configured to generate content for an MMS message based on input to the wireless mobile communication device. The mobile communication device may include an MMS client configured to generate MMS messages based on content supplied by the user applications. The MMS client may be configured to generate a value for a field of information within each MMS message that is indicative of the type of user application which supplies content for the MMS message. The value may be different for each different type of user application.