MMS Relay Server Reminder and Expiry Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users of multimedia messaging services face challenges in remembering to retrieve multimedia messages before they expire, especially when they are unaware of the messages stored in the MMS relay/server or lack sufficient disk space, and service providers incur revenue losses due to uncollected messages.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for managing multimedia messages that allow users to set reminders for retrieval and extend the expiry time of multimedia messages, enabling users to retrieve them at their convenience and reducing message deletion without user awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multimedia messages are stored in the MMS relay/server with automatic deletion after expiry time, then storage space is managed efficiently and service provider revenue is protected, but users may lose messages they are unaware of or cannot retrieve before expiry
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically setting reminder times for multimedia messages before their expiry time. The MMS relay/server calculates and sets a reminder time (e.g., 1 hour before expiry) and notifies the user, giving advance warning and opportunity to retrieve the message before automatic deletion occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by notifying users about upcoming message expiry through reminder mechanisms. The MMS relay/server sends notification messages to user mobile stations when the reminder time is reached, creating a feedback loop that informs users of their pending messages and enables timely retrieval.
2Loss of information
If users are notified of all stored multimedia messages, then user awareness is improved, but user burden and notification fatigue increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and setting reminder times based on message expiry schedules. Rather than notifying users continuously or requiring manual checks, the system proactively sets timed notifications that remind users at optimal moments before expiry, reducing the burden of constant monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic action by setting reminders at specific intervals before message expiry. The MMS relay/server calculates appropriate reminder times (e.g., 1 hour before expiry) and sends notifications at these periodic intervals, providing timely warnings without requiring continuous user engagement or overwhelming notification frequency.
3Productivity
If the MMS relay/server automatically deletes messages after expiry time, then storage management is simplified and service provider revenue is protected, but users experience message loss when unaware or unable to retrieve
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically setting reminder times and preparing notification messages before the actual deletion occurs. The MMS relay/server calculates reminder times (e.g., 1 hour before expiry), sends notifications to users, and only after the reminder period expires does it proceed with automatic deletion, ensuring users have been warned and had opportunity to retrieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by establishing a notification mechanism that informs users of upcoming deletions. The MMS relay/server sends feedback notifications to mobile stations when reminder times are reached, creating a communication loop that alerts users to their pending messages and enables timely retrieval before automatic deletion occurs.
4Device complexity
If users must manually check for stored messages, then system complexity is reduced, but user convenience and timeliness of retrieval deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by having the MMS relay/server automatically manage reminder scheduling and notification delivery without requiring user intervention. The server autonomously calculates reminder times, generates notification messages, and sends them to users' mobile stations, freeing users from manual checking while maintaining simple user-side functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by automatically sending notifications from the MMS relay/server to users when reminder times are reached. This automated feedback mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually check for stored messages, as the system proactively informs them of their pending messages and expiry status.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for managing multimedia messages. If receiving a request to set a retrieval reminder for a specific multimedia message from an MS, an MMS relay/server sets a reminder time for the specific multimedia message to a reminder time included in the request to set the retrieval reminder. If a current time corresponds to the reminder time, the MMS relay/server notifies the MS of retrieving the specific multimedia message. If receiving a request to extend an expiry time of the specific multimedia message from the MS, the MMS relay/server sets the expiry time of the specific multimedia message to an expiry time included in the request to extend the expiry time.