Method for Retrieving and Delivering Multimedia Messages Using the Session Initiation Protocol

A method for retrieving a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message, the method being executed at an MMS User Agent, the method comprising:

• generating an MMS subscription request;
• sending said MMS subscription request to an MMS server using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) method SUBSCRIBE;
• receiving an MMS notification of the MMS message from the MMS server using a SIP method NOTIFY;
• in response to receiving said MMS notification, generating an MMS message retrieval request for retrieving said MMS message;
• sending said MMS message retrieval request to the MMS Server using a SIP method FETCH;
• receiving an MMS message retrieval comprising said MMS message;
• and
• in response to receiving said MMS message retrieval from the MMS Server, sending an acknowledgment to the MMS Server using a SIP method INFORM.

The method for delivering a Multimedia Messaging Service message (MMS), the method being executed at an MMS Server, the method comprising:

• receiving an MMS subscription request from a terminal using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) method SUBSCRIBE;
• receiving the MMS message;
• in response to receiving said MMS message, generating an MMS notification, and sending said MMS notification to the terminal using a SIP method NOTIFY;
• receiving an MMS message retrieval request from the terminal using a SIP method FETCH, the MMS message retrieval request requesting the MMS message;
• in response to receiving said MMS message retrieval request, generating an MMS message retrieval comprising the MMS message, and sending said MMS message retrieval to the terminal;
• and
• receiving an acknowledgment from the terminal using a SIP method INFORM.

A terminal to retrieve a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message, the terminal comprising:

• a processor to generate an MMS subscription request;
• a transceiver to:
• send said MMS subscription request to an MMS server using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) method SUBSCRIBE;
• and
• receiving an MMS notification of the MMS message from the MMS server using a SIP method NOTIFY;
• wherein
• in response to receiving said MMS notification, the processor generate an MMS message retrieval request for retrieving said MMS message;
• the transceiver:
• sends said MMS message retrieval request to the MMS Server using a SIP method FETCH;
• receives an MMS message retrieval comprising said MMS message;
• and
• in response to receiving said MMS message retrieval from the MMS Server, sends an acknowledgment to the MMS Server using a SIP method INFORM.