Method for limiting the number of times to forward a multimedia message in MMSC

摘要

The present invention provides a method that restricts the number of times that a multimedia message can be forwarded among several multimedia messaging service centers (MMSCs). When the originator MMSC forwards a multimedia message to the next MMSC, the MMSC adds a new field: a forward counter, in the message and assigns an initial value to the field. Then, the modified message is sent out to the next MMSC in the MM4 protocol. If the recipient terminal of the message belongs to the current MMSC, the current MMSC simply delivers the message to the recipient in the MM1 protocol and the process is completed. Otherwise, the multimedia message will be forwarded to the next MMSC with the forward counter incremented by one until either the right MMSC receives the message or the forward counter reaches the predefined maximum number. Then MMSC process the message according other rule.