초록 ▼

A multimedia message handling apparatus comprises a keyboard for inputting text information, a microphone for inputting voice information, a scanner for inputting image information, and binary means for inputting binary information. A processor is provided for mixing at least two of text information

A multimedia message handling apparatus comprises a keyboard for inputting text information, a microphone for inputting voice information, a scanner for inputting image information, and binary means for inputting binary information. A processor is provided for mixing at least two of text information, voice information, image information, binary information and OLE information to generate a multimedia message in which the different types of information are separately identifiable. A memory stores the generated multimedia message. The multimedia message handling apparatus further includes a facsimile interface for sending and receiving image information through a telephone interface, a voice synthesizer/digitizer for sending and receiving voice information through the telephone interface, a modem for sending and receiving image information, text information, voice information and binary information through the telephone interface, and a network control unit for selectively connecting the telephone interface to the facsimile interface, the voice synthesizer/digitizer, or the modem in accordance with message characteristics on the telephone interface. Multimedia messages received by the apparatus are stored in the memory where they may be viewed or otherwise processed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] Apparatus for transmitting a multimedia message to a recipient, the multimedia message including first type information mixed together with second type information different from the first type information, said apparatus comprising:a memory for storing at least one of a

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] Apparatus for transmitting a multimedia message to a recipient, the multimedia message including first type information mixed together with second type information different from the first type information, said apparatus comprising:a memory for storing at least one of a plurality of different media types which correspond to a receiving mechanism of the recipient, for storing the multimedia message comprising the first type information mixed together with the second type information, and for storing a plurality of different conversion instructions, each one of the conversion instructions for converting the first and second type information into a respective one of the plurality of different media types; anda processor adapted to execute instructions for mixing the first type information and the second type information so as to generate a multimedia message in which the first type information and the second type information are separately identifiable, and adapted to determine whether conversion of thefirst and/or second type information is necessary based on the at least one media type stored in the memory, and, in a case that conversion is necessary, to select one of the plurality of different conversion instructions for automatically converting the first and/or second type information to one of the plurality of different media types that corresponds to the recipient's receiving mechanism, the selected one of the plurality of different conversion instructions being selected based on a table of permissible and impermissible conversion capabilities and based on the at least one media type stored in the memory, wherein the table of permissible and impermissible conversion capabilities indicates an extent to which it is possible to convert each one of the plurality of different media types into another, different one of the plurality of different media types.