Method of providing multimedia messaging service using unique message indentifier background of the invention

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of providing a multimedia messaging service, which guarantees the uniqueness of a transmitted multimedia message. In the multimedia messaging method using a mobile communication network of the present invention, a multimedia message transmitted from an originating mobile station is stored. A receiving mobile station is informed of the arrival of the multimedia message. The stored multimedia message is transmitted to the receiving mobile station if a download request is received from the receiving mobile station. In this case, the stored multimedia message includes a unique message identifier distinguished from file information of other multimedia messages stored to be retransmissible.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method of providing a multimedia messaging service using an external Video-on-Demand (VOD) server, comprising the steps of:
 a) allocating a user's unique identifier to a requested moving picture multimedia message and storing the moving picture multimedia message with the unique identifier, if a request for transmission of the moving picture multimedia message is received from an originating mobile station;   b) informing a receiving mobile station of arrival of the moving picture multimedia message;   c) allowing the receiving mobile station to access the external VOD server, if a download request for the stored multimedia message is received from the receiving mobile station;   d) the external VOD server reading the moving picture multimedia message from a database with reference to unique identifier information of the requested multimedia message;   e) the external VOD server transmitting the read moving picture multimedia message in a streaming manner; and   f) the external VOD server informing a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) relay server of termination of the transmission using a message including the unique identifier of the multimedia message, if the transmission of the moving picture multimedia message has terminated.   
     
     
         8 . The multimedia messaging service providing method according to  claim 7 , wherein the step b) is performed so that the MMS relay server generates a file for preview by capturing a preview image from moving pictures of the moving picture message and informs the receiving mobile station of the arrival of the moving picture message using a message including the preview file information. 
     
     
         9 . The multimedia messaging service providing method according to  claim 7 , further comprising the step of the MMS relay server informing a billing center of billing information when billing according to the transmission of the moving picture message is required, if the MMS relay server has been informed of the termination of the streaming transmission of the moving picture message.