Free-hand mobile messaging-method and device

Abstract

A communication system and device that enables free-hand drawn SMS (Short Messaging Service) messages to be transmitted and received from/to various user devices. A buffer device is inserted within a GSM compatible handset providing a buffer for both conventional SMS messages created by typing a message on the keypad of the handset and for free-hand drawn SMS messages created by drawing or writing the free-hand message on a data entry device. An optional OCR (Optical Character Recognition) facility can be provided in either the buffer device inserted within the handset or in a network server that receives the transmitted message and processes it for proper routing to the intended recipient.

1 . A method for creating and sending SMS messages, said method comprising:
 inputting a free-hand message to a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) compatible communication device;   storing said free-hand message in a buffering device within said GSM compatible communication device;   processing said free-hand message to be compatible with standard SMS message standards; and   transmitting the processed free-hand message.   
     
     
         2 . A method for creating and sending SMS messages as set forth in  claim 1 , said method further comprising:
 performing optical character recognition on said free-hand message.   
     
     
         3 . A method for creating and sending SMS messages as set forth in  claim 1 , said method further comprising:
 determining whether an SMS message being entered into said GSM compatible communication device is a standard SMS message or a free-hand drawn SMS message; and   processing said SMS message being entered with said buffering device if it is determined that said SMS message is a free-hand drawn message.   
     
     
         4 . A method for creating and sending an SMS message from a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) compatible communication device, said method comprising:
 activating a message create function on said communication device, wherein said message create function is associated with a free-hand drawn message input device;   entering a free-hand drawn message using said free-hand drawn message input device;   activating a message ready function on said communication device indicating that message entry is complete;   storing the free-hand drawn message in a buffering device; and   quantizing the stored message into a set of sub-messages each with a predetermined maximum size.   
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 indicating whether the free-hand drawn message entered using said freehand drawn message input device contains text; and   performing optical character recognition on said entered message if said entered message contains text.   
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said optical character recognition is performed within said GSM compatible communication device. 
     
     
         7 . A method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said optical character recognition is performed within a network server external from said GSM compatible communication device. 
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 if the free-hand drawn message includes text, indicating a language associated with the text;   performing said optical character recognition on said text in the language indicated.   
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising encoding said quantized message. 
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 sending said encoded free-hand message from said communications device to a messaging service center;   relaying the encoded free-hand message from said messaging service center to a free-hand messaging server;   decoding said encoded free-hand message; and   forwarding said decoded free-hand message from said free-hand messaging server to said messaging service center; and   forwarding said decoded free-hand message from said messaging service center to an intended recipient.   
     
     
         11 . A method for receiving an SMS message from a communication device, said method comprising:
 receiving an encoded free-hand drawn SMS message from a free-hand messaging server;   transferring said encoded free-hand drawn SMS message to a buffering device operably connected to a microprocessor and a security identity module;   decoding said encoded free-hand drawn SMS message in said buffering device.