SEMINAR REPORT MMS

MMS
(MULTIMEDIA MESSAGING SERVICE)

SEMINAR REPORT 2009

DONE BY

NIDHIN.R

S5 & S6 computer

ROLL NO: 24

nidhinstar@gmail.com

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING

CARMEL POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, PUNNAPRA

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SEMINAR REPORT MMS

CARMEL POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

PUNNAPRA

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER ENGINNEERING

CERTIFICATE

This is to Certify that the seminar report

entitled MULTIMEDIA MESSAGE SERVICE was done by NIDHIN.R of
Computer Engineering, Carmel Polytechnic Collage, Punnapra, Alappuzha in
partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of Diploma in Computer
engineering under the Board of Technical Education, during the year 2009 –
2010.

Lecture in charge Head of section

Internal examiner External

Examiner

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

At the submission of this seminar report on MULTIMEDIA MESSAGE

SERVICE I use this opportunity to say thanks to everyone who helped to see
this seminar to completion. In particular, I would like to thank my seminar

coordinator Sri. M. G. Sreenivasa Panicker for his moral support

and guidance to complete my seminar on time.

I would like to specially thank to my class tutor Mr. Abhilash sir for his
hearty support, guidelines and valuable suggestions towards the completion of
my seminar. I would also like to thank Mrs. Juny John for their valuable help
and support.

My parents, who always encourage me towards my studies, took a great

interest in my seminar. Their enquiries regarding the seminar had given
me mental strength and conviction towards the completion of work. I sincerely
acknowledge them for all love and affection.

Finally I place my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to my friends all support and
encourage given to me to present this seminar

Last, but not the least I wish to express my gratitude to God almighty for his
abundant blessings without which this seminar would not have been successful.

Nidhin.R

S5 & S6 Computer Engineering

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ABSTRACT

The mobile population is increasing like anything and to meet the ever-
increasing demand of the mobile users is not a simple task. A grueling research
in various fields of science has already begun in various parts of the globe to
find a new and innovative means of mobile communication, which must
completely satisfy the mobile users. Keeping this important point under
consideration this paper has been framed on a unique; or rather an interesting
topic called MMS (Multimedia Messaging Services), which is gaining a
tremendous momentum in the recent past and which is expected to dominate the
future of mobile technology.

The main aim of this paper is to uncover the hidden secrets of the multimedia
messaging services, which has already created a mobile revolution in some parts
of the world. This paper starts with a very brief information about the
generations of mobile technology and then the multimedia messaging services
(MMS) is unleashed in a very interesting and informative manner. This
comparisons between MMS, SMS, EMS is well discussed in depth. This paper
also deals with SMIL-Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language, which is
the language that is used to develop MMS contents.

Next how MMS gets implemented is explained well with illustrative

diagrams. This part of the paper really takes you into the MMS- Center which
controls and monitors the transfer of the multimedia data in the mobile world.

CONTENTS

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1 INTRODUCTION ..................................…………………………………………06

2 GENERATIONS IN MOBILE TECHNOLOGY……………………………….. 07

3 MULTIMEDIA MESSAGING SERVICES (MMS)..............................................10

4 HOW IS MMS DIFFERENT FROM SMS …………………………….…………12

5 SMIL: Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language ………………………...13

6 MULTIMEDIA MESSAGE SERVICE ENVIRONMENT……………………..17

7 INTERFACES……………………………………………………………19

8 CONCLUTION…………………………………………….…………..23

9 BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………….……24

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MULTIMEDIA MESSAGING SERVICES (MMS)

INTRODUCTION:

Communication is one of the very important aspect in this world. As

times has changed our communication has also changed along with it. The snail
mails, which we sent earlier, are hardly in existence today. We people always
demand for a faster and better method of communication. Fortunately today we
have reached a very important landmark in communication with the birth of a
new way of communication –MMS (Multimedia Messaging Services). The next
few pages will take you into it. But before going into that, knowledge of the
generations of mobile technology is very important to fully appreciate the
technology of MMS. A very short description of the generations in mobile
technology is given below for that purpose.

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GENERATIONS IN MOBILE TECHNOLOGY:

Everyone knows that computers were mere monstrous vacuum

tubes in its early days of invention and usage. Things changed gradually and
finally we are now left with computers that can very comfortably sit on our laps
without occupying much of space and scientists believe that computers will
become a part of the body with the help of some hot technologies like
nanotechnology and artificial intelligence in the near future. This change or
revolution in the computers did not happen in a day, it took more than 50 years
for the computer to take a form that is compact as well as convenient for the
user to operate. The same sort of revolution is happening with the mobile
technology, but in a very faster manner than that of the computers.

Moore`s Law (named after Intel cofounder Gordon Moore) states that “the
number of circuits packed into a given area of a silicon chip doubles
approximately every eighteen months, leading to similar improvement in
processing power”. To our wonder the mobile computing is accelerating at a
rate much faster than Moore`s Law.

Now lets see what are the various generations in the mobile technology:

1G:
The first generation of systems for mobile telephony was analog, circuit
switched, and it only carried voice traffic. The analog phones used in 1G were
less secure and prone to interference where the signal is weak. Analog systems
include AMPS, NMT and ETACS.

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2G:

The second-generation phones cover all speech into digital code, resulting
in a clear signal that can be encrypted for security. Most also include some kind
of messaging, as well as support for Centrex style services such as voice mail
and caller ID. The most popular is GSM (Global System for Mobile
Communications), but several others are used around the world. They can send
data, but usually at less than 10 kilobits per second (Kbps); by comparisons,
most modems achieve a real speed of atleast 30 Kbps. 2G networks include
GSM, D-AMPS (TDMA) and CDMA. 2G networks can support SMS
applications.

2.5 G:

The successor of the 2G technology is the 2.5G. 2.5 G supports higher

data speeds. The term 2.5G also applies to technology such as WAP (Wireless
Application Protocol), which uses a version of the web to fit into a mobile
phone’s slow data rate and small screen. 2.5G networks include EDGE
(Enhanced Data Rates) and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service). These
networks support WAP, MMS, SMS mobile games, and search and directory.

Though MMS was introduced in the 2.5G, it really gained its momentum
and fame only with the introduction of 3G.

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3G:

The present hype is around the Third Generation (3G) phones, which is
expected to play a very important role until atleast 2010. 3G systems will
provide a variety of advanced services, including data transfer at upto 2
megabits per second (Mbps). 3G will support multimedia applications such as
full-motion video, video conferencing and Internet access. 3G will cover bot
only the connection between a mobile terminal and its base station, called the
WAN (Wireless Area Network), but also the LAN (Local Area Network). 3G is
a generic term covering a range of future wireless network technologies,
including WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), CDMA2000
(Code Division Multiple Access), UMTS (Universal Mobile
Telecommunications Service) and EDGE.

4G:
Fourth Generation networks are already in the labs, targeted for
deployment beginning in 2010. They will provide data rates up to 100 Mbps,
enough for telepresence. This is a type of virtual reality, defined as full
stimulation of all senses required to provide the illusion of actually being
somewhere else – an illusion that cannot be distinguished from the real thing.
However, still there are many years for this to get implemented.

Now lets discuss about the key topic on this paper – MMS (Multimedia
Messaging Services).

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MULTIMEDIA MESSAGING SERVICES (MMS):

“A picture says more than a thousand words and is more fun to look
at!!!”.
Everyone in this world believes in this quote. And this is also one of the
main quotes that inspired mobile developers who gave this hot technology –
MMS.

MMS, Multimedia Messaging Service, is a standardized messaging

service. It traced its roots from SMS (Short Messaging Services) and EMS
(Enhanced Messaging Services) .MMS will allow users to send and receive
messages exploiting the whole array of media types available today, e.g. text,
images, audio, and video, text,

Graphics, data, animations, while also making it possible to

support new content types as they become popular. With MMS, for
example, users could send each other personal pictures together with a
voice message, such as a greeting card with a picture, handwritten
message, and a personal song or sound clip that has been recorded by
the user itself. Video conferencing, which is expected to make a great
impact in the future, is also possible with this technology. Using the
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) as bearer technology and
powered by the high-speed transmission technologies EDGE, GPRS
and UMTS (WCDMA), Multimedia Messaging allows users to send
and receive messages that look like PowerPoint-style Presentations.

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MMS supports standard image formats such as GIF and JPEG, video
formats such as MPEG 4, and audio formats such as MP3, MIDI and
WAV, also the new AMR...

The greatest advantage of MMS is its ability to interact with

mobile to mobile terminals as well as with mobile to PDA \Laptop
\Internet and other data devices. MMS can also act as a virtual email
client. Greatly anticipated by young users in particular, MMS is
projected to fuel the growth of related market segments by as much as
forty percent.

Now lets see how MMS is different from SMS and EMS.

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HOW IS MMS DIFFERENT FROM SMS AND EMS?

SMS EMS MMS

Media content Plain text a combination of Text (freeform),
text and simple pictures
pixel-image graphics, audio
and/or and video.
Audio.

160 characters sequential No limitation

Length of message
transmission of
multiple SMS
messages

Video conferencing no no yes

Digital image viewing no No(only pixel Yes

images)

Generation 2G 2.5G 3G

Distribution (to/from)
Mobile Phone Mobile Phone Mobile Phone
no no no, IP & e-mail
address

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SMIL: Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language

MMS uses its own standardized presentation protocol, the Synchronized

Multimedia Integration Language – SMIL, pronounced ‘smile’. This descriptive
language (also a markup language) has the same function as HTML on the Web
and provides great freedom of design. SMIL is a presentation format, i.e. a
SMIL page contains information about the appearance of different multimedia
elements on a display. When SMIL is used to represent content on a PC screen,
normally a window is opened whose size is defined by the layout element of the
SMIL page to be displayed. In this way, the appearance of the SMIL page on
the screen will reflect exactly the organization of the content as the author had
created it. When SMIL is used for the presentation of multimedia messages on
mobile terminals, the size of the window is severely limited by the resolution
and appearance of the terminal display. The layout of a multimedia message
represents the content as created by the originator, but it is well possible that the
original layout simply does not fit into the display of the receiving terminal.
Therefore, SMIL exchange must be simple enough to ensure that -if the displays
of the originator and receiver terminal are different- the content can still be
displayed, possibly by changing the relative position of the different elements.

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ARVIND

AND

Fig: The same message needs to be reorganized for different displays.

ARVIND AND SRIKKANTH

Due to the limited processing power of the first generation of MMS-

enabled devices, this adaptation process must be achieved without the need of
complex content analysis and interpretation. In order to achieve this goal, the
layout of the outgoing message should reflect (in terms of size and orientation)
the display characteristics of the originating terminal, and must always contain
at most two regions one labeled as "Text", the other as "Image".

If the receiving terminal can fit the SMIL layout in its screen as is, no
change will be necessary. Otherwise, the SMIL page can be modified by ideally
replacing the layout section in the incoming message with another one specific
to the receiving terminal, in which the size and the position of the "Text" and
"Image" regions are appropriately redefined. The following example shows a
simple multimedia message composed by two slides, described in the <body>
part of the message.

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<smil>

<head>

<layout>

<root-layout width = "170" height ="130"/>

<region id ="Image" width ="170" height ="110" left ="0" top = "0" />

<region id ="Text" width ="170" height ="20" left = "0" top ="110"/>

</layout>

</head>

<body>

<par dur = "5s">

<img src ="smile.jpg" region ="image" />

<text src ="helloworld.txt" region ="text" />

<audio src = " welcome to my paper.amr"/>

</par>

<par dur ="10s">

<img src =theend.jpg" region ="image" />

<text src ="theend.txt" region ="text" />

<audio src = " than alot 4 ur listenin.amr"/>

</par>

</body>

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</smil>

The above slide would appear first for 5sec, while we hear “welcome to my
paper” music in the background

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The above slide stays for 10 sec and we can hear “than a lot 4..” music in the background.

MULTIMEDIA MESSAGE SERVICE ENVIRONMENT

The biggest merit of MMS is its “Store and Forward technique.” ( also similar
to that in SMS ).Using this technique , messages are not sent directly between
users but via an MMS center. This aspect allows for a number of key MMS
attributes, such asinstant delivery, nominal tariffing and message delivery
unhindered by network traffic and allows the user to view the multimedia files
he received during his recent past.

Access Internet /

Network IP Network

FIG: The MMS Environment

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The MMSC acts in similar way to the SMSC in that it sends, receives and
stores multimedia messages. It is the central router in the MMS architecture.
The MMSC interacts with external network such as PSTN, Internet and
Intranet. It also transfers Multimedia Messages between different mobile
networks. However, unlike SMS and EMS that are sent over the signaling
channel, MMS messages are delivered over traffic channels. These are designed
to carry a range of data services in GPRS and UMTS networks, with higher
capacity and a lower likelihood of congestion. The technical specifications laid
down by 3GPP for the MMS Standard define a certain set of requirements on
both terminal and network side, which needs to be supported for the provision
of the multimedia message service. The aim is not to standardize the services
but instead use a standardized set of service capabilities features on which new
services can be built. The MMSE may comprise 2G and 3G networks, 3G
networks with islands of coverage within a 2G network and roamed networks.
The MMSE provides all the necessary service elements, e.g. delivery, storage
and notification functionality. These service elements may be located within
one network or distributed across several networks or network types.

Unlike SMS, which uses proprietary standards like SMPP, EMI and
CIMD, MMS will use existing Internet standards, which will facilitate
development of services and interworking with the fixed Internet. These
protocols include WAP, MIME, and POP3 and SMTP.

When a user ‘A’ sends an MMS message to an user ‘B’ whose mobile
does not support MMS, then the user ‘B’ gets a SMS message that “You have
received a MMS Message from User A”, followed by the URL where the
message has been stored in the internet. Now user ‘B’ could access the net and
view the message.

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This is how communication happens between MMS enabled mobiles and

mobiles deprived of MMS facility. Isn’t this aspect of MMS interesting?

INTERFACES

There are 11 interfaces used in the architecture of MMS. Each have

a particular duty previously assigned to them. The interfaces that used in the
MMS architecture are,

MM1:

MM1 is the interface between Mobile Station (MS) and MMSC. It has
been defined by the 3GPP in TS 23.140.

MM1 is used in the following actions:

 the sender subscriber sends an MMS to the MMSC

 the MMSC notifies the recipient subscriber that he/she has an MMS
waiting for retrieval
 the recipient subscriber retrieves the MMS from the MMSC
 the MMSC notifies the sender that the recipient has retrieved the message
 the recipient subscriber manages his/her mailbox in the MMSC (uploads
MMS, deletes MMS, ...)

The MM1 interface is based on the WAP protocol. It includes the PAP
notifications that are transformed to SMS's by the WAP gateway for the
notifications.

MM2:

MM2 is an interface between an MMS relay and an MMS storage

database, the two components of MMSC platform.

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MM3:

MM3 is the interface between MMSC and external servers such as Email
server or SMS Centers SMSC. This interface is typically uses TCP/IP based
protocols for e.g Simple Mail Transfer Protocol ( SMTP )

Generally, it's the responsibility of MMSC to do the transformation of

MMS multi-part binary data to MIME format of email in both the direction

MM3 is used in the following actions:

 To exchange messages with external servers such as Email Server or

SMS Centers

MM4:

It is defined as the 3GPP interface between MMS Centers.It is

responsible for the communication between two ormor MMS Centers.

MM5:

MM5 is the interface between MMSC and other network elements like
HLR or Domain Name Server

The communication over MM5 Interface is generally to fetch the routing

information.

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MM5 has been defined by the 3GPP in TS 23.140 as a simple reference

to Mobile Application Part.

MM6:

It is the 3GPP interface between MMS Center and user databases

MM7:

MM7 is the interface between MMSC and a value-added service provider

(VASP). It is defined by the 3GPP in the standard TS 23.140.

The MM7 interface is used to send MMS from 3rd party providers (e.g., a
bank sending a statement or an advertiser sending publicity). It is based on
SOAP with attachments, using HTTP as the transport protocol. HTTP request
shall be a POST.

The message is a MIME which encapsulates the SOAP envelope and the
encoded attachments. The SOAP envelope is an XML where tags are the MM7
protocol data.

MM8:

It is the 3GPP interface between MMS Center and the billing systems.

MM9:

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It is the 3GPP interface between MMS Center and an online charging

system.

MM10:

The 3GPP interface between MMS Center and a message service control
function is known as the MM10.

MM11:

It acts as the 3GPP interface between MMS Center and an external

transcoder.

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CONCLUSION

Today, it managers face tremendous challenges due to the inherent

openness of end-user machines, and millions of people simply avoid some
online transactions out of fear. However, with the usage of “palladium”
systems, trustworthy, secure interactions will become possible. This
technology will provide tougher security defenses and more abundant
privacy benefits than ever before. With palladium, users will have
unparalleled power over system integrity, personal privacy and data
security.

Thus it wouldn’t be exaggeration to say that palladium is all to secure

the computing world in ways unimaginable.

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BIBILOGRAPHY

 The Essential Guide to Wireless Communications Applications – Andy

Dornan.

 GPRS and 3G Wireless Applications by Christopher Anderson.

 MMS for Wireless Networks – Scott Guthery , Mary Cronin

 MMS Wireless Application Development -McGraw Hill Text

 Mobile Messaging Technologies and Services: SMS, EMS and MMS

–Gwenael Le Bodic

 Wireless Messaging Demystified –Dan Lubar

 www.3gpp.org

THANK YOU

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