WO2005109820A1

WO2005109820A1 - Selecting and transmitting files to terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2005109820A1
Application number: PCT/FI2005/050151
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kim Simelius
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation
Priority date: 2004-05-12
Filing date: 2005-05-11
Publication date: 2005-11-17
Also published as: EP1771989A4; FI20045174A0; EP1771989A1; KR100912420B1; CN1951086B; KR20070007963A; CN1951086A

Abstract

A method for transmitting files to a terminal. A first terminal controls (302) the storage of files on a server. A group of identifiers describing the content of files is transmitted in a message (306) to a second terminal, the identifiers being pointable by the second terminal. The second terminal identifies the message as a specific message for sharing files and separates from the message the files and/or their identifiers into separate fields for display to the user of the terminal. In response to the selection of the user of the second terminal a reply message (312) is created for transmission to the server, the reply message ordering at least one file.

Description

SELECTING AND TRANSMITTING FILES TO TERMINAL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to controlling a terminal adapted to process files and especially to transmitting multimedia files to a wireless termi- nal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The properties of the latest mobile station models include not only conventional telephone functions but also various multimedia functions that enable the creation and processing of multimedia files and their transmis- sion on to other mobile stations or to a computer, for instance, for further processing. Mobile stations of this type typically comprise a digital camera, and the images produced by it can be transmitted to other telecommunications devices by using e-mail or a multimedia messaging service (MMS), for instance. The fact that such multimedia mobile stations have become common has made the sharing and distribution of images and other multimedia files between different terminals very popular. [0003] A typical situation in sharing images and other multimedia files is that a set of images or other multimedia files are stored in a first terminal and the user of a second terminal wants a copy of one or more of them. The simplest way of sharing the multimedia files is then that the user of the first terminal presents the multimedia files s/he has stored in the mobile station or some other storage medium, such as a computer, and the user of the second terminal selects what s/he wants. After this, the desired multimedia files are transferred over a telecommunications connection to the second terminal. Such a transmission method of multimedia files is, however, problematic, because it requires that both users be present. [0004] To solve this, multimedia file transmission methods have been developed based on storing images or other multimedia files created by a wireless terminal on a separate server, and other users are then granted ac- cess rights for browsing the multimedia files and downloading them to their terminals. One such arrangement is disclosed in WO application 02/097672. [0005] This type of arrangement also has its drawbacks, because granting access rights to outsiders always presents a security risk. Another problem is that the second party needs to establish a wireless connection to the server, browse large multimedia files over a substantially slow wireless connection, and also download them over said connection to the terminal, which causes considerable costs to the second party.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0006] A method and means for implementing the method are now provided to substantially reduce the drawbacks of the problems described above. As different aspects of the invention, a method, wireless terminals, server, and software products are presented, which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. [0007] A few embodiments of the invention are presented in the de- pendent claims. [0008] The invention is based on transmitting from a first terminal, which has stored multimedia files on a server to a second terminal a group of multimedia file identifiers in such a message format that the identifiers can be pointed by the user of the second terminal for selecting and ordering at least one of the files or a part thereof from the server by using a reply message. [0009] According to one embodiment, a reply message comprising the identifier of at least one selected file or a part thereof is received from the second terminal by the server. [0010] According to one embodiment, the files are multimedia files, and the multimedia files or some of them are compressed into a smaller size and they are arranged in one message according to the used message format for transmission to the second terminal. [0011] According to one embodiment, for each of the multimedia files a unique identifier is formed for transmission with the group of multimedia files, and the unique identifier is separable as a parameter pointable by the user of the second terminal. [0012] According to one embodiment, if the group of multimedia files is copied onto a network server before the transmission of the message to the second wireless terminal, the network address of the network server is added to the message for the purpose of ordering the multimedia files. [0013] The arrangement of the invention provides the advantage that it enables the user of the first terminal to easily, quickly and inexpensively to offer image files and other multimedia files to be shared with other users of terminals. A further advantage is that the mobility of neither of the terminals is limited in such a manner that the users of the terminals should meet, or that either of them should establish a connection to a server requiring access rights for the purpose of browsing the files. [0014] Further, according to one embodiment, the second (receiving) terminal identifies the received message as a specific message intended for the sharing of multimedia files and said compressed multimedia files and/or their identifiers are separated from the message into separate fields to be presented to the user of the terminal for selecting using a pointer of the terminal. [0015] After this, in response to the selection made by the user of the second terminal, an order request for multimedia files is formed comprising said compressed multimedia files or their identifiers, and the request is transmitted to the server comprising the multimedia files, which can thus be the first terminal or a network server. [0016] The multimedia files specified in the request or the network addresses thereof are transmitted from the server to the second terminal or to the address specified by the user of the second terminal as file transfer over a data link or as attachments of at least one message, such as an e-mail message or MMS message. [0017] The arrangement of the invention provides the further advantage that the user of the second terminal can very easily form an image re- quest from the miniature images provided. To browse the files, the user of the second terminal need not establish a connection to a server requiring access rights, but s/he can browse the available files on his/her own terminal and request the desired files.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0018] The invention will now be described in greater detail by means of the preferred embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a mobile station with a camera attached thereto, Figure 2 shows a signalling diagram of a method according to one embodiment of the invention, Figure 3 shows a signalling diagram of a method according to a second embodiment of the invention, Figures 4a and 4b show simplified user interface images of how the message for sharing files is formed in the terminal, and Figure 5 shows a flow chart of a few embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0019] In the following, the invention will be illustrated by way of example by using embodiments that are especially related to sharing digital im- age files between users of terminals. The invention is, however, not limited to (still) image files only, but the same procedure is also applicable to other multimedia files, such as digital video or audio files, and various document files. [0020] Figure 1 shows a wireless terminal MS, such as a mobile station, which comprises camera functionality CA. A mobile station generally refers to a device comprising means for implementing wireless data transfer. Such devices include devices capable of data transfer with a public land mobile network, such as a GSM/GPRS network or a third-generation (e.g. 3GPP) network. It should be noted that the invention is also applicable to mobile stations without camera functionality but with the capability of downloading multi- media files over an available telecommunications connection. It should further be noted that the invention is also applicable to mobile stations equipped with a camera, in which the camera is not integrated to the mobile station, but the camera producing image information is attached to the mobile station over wire or wirelessly. It should yet further be noted that the invention is not limited to mobile stations, but it is also possible to apply the invention to portable or fixed personal computers, various mass memories, printers, and other electronic devices suited for file processing. [0021] The mobile station MS comprises a central processing unit (CPU), memory (MEM), and I/O system (I/O). All necessary information is stored in the memory (MEM) of the device. The memory (MEM) comprises a read-only memory section formed for instance of a ROM memory, and a read- write memory section formed for instance of a RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or FLASH memory. Through the I/O system (I/O), the device communicates for instance with other devices, the network and the user. In particular, the I/O system comprises a transceiver Tx/Rx arranged to transmit and receive data transfer according to various wireless data transfer protocols through an antenna Ant. A user interface (Ul), which is part of the I/O system (I/O), comprises the necessary interface, such as a display, keys, loudspeaker, and/or microphone, for communicating with the user. Information received from the different components of the device is transmitted to the central processing unit (CPU) that comprises one or more processors and processes the received information as desired. [0022] The mobile station MS of Figure 1 also comprises a camera CA able to function using any known digital imaging technique. The camera CA transforms light into electric charges in an image sensor, defines RGB values for dots and transforms them into a digital format. It should be noted that, in addition to still images, the camera CA is also able to store video images. The central processing unit CPU processes, for instance compresses, the digital-format image information and stores it into the memory MEM. The mobile station of Figure 1 can, in addition to or instead of the camera, comprise means for generating and/or downloading digital sound material. This sound material can be music files compressed with an MP3 compression format, for instance. [0023] The signalling diagram of Figure 2 illustrates an arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention for transmitting multimedia files between two wireless terminals, such as mobile stations. The example of Figure 2 uses digital still images recorded by a camera CA as the multimedia files. The user of a first terminal MS1 selects (200) from the image files stored in the memory of the terminal the ones that s/he wants to transmit to the user of a second terminal MS2 for browsing. Miniature images (thumbnails) are formed of the selected images for instance by compressing the original image files. An unique identifier is formed for each miniature image for instance as a check sum calculated from the image data or as an identifier calculated on the basis of a terminal identifier (e.g. IMSI or IMEI code) and the time stamp of the original image. The purpose of the unique identifier is to identify each selected image file separately and to link the miniature image to the original image file. [0024] After this, a uniform message is formed (202) of the miniature images and their identifiers in a format that enables the separation of the miniature images and/or their identifiers from the message for further process- ing. An MMS message, for instance, can be used as the presentation format of the message with the miniature images attached thereto as one embedded image file and the identifiers as separate text fields. Correspondingly, an e-mail message can be used as a similar message, to which the embedded image file of the miniature images is attached as an attachment. The miniature images can also be kept as separate image files that are attached to a structural document format, such as an HTML, XHTML or XML document, together with the identifiers. Other data, too, can be attached to the message to be transmitted, such as a field for a greeting text, the size of the original image files, browsing order of the miniature images, recommended connection format for the transmission of the original files, etc. After the message is generated, it is transmitted (204) to the second terminal MS2 by using an available, preferably wireless data transfer method. [0025] When the second terminal MS2 receives the message, it preferably identifies (206) the message as a specific message for sharing multimedia files. For the processing of messages, the receiving terminal can com- prise a plug-in adapted for this purpose and capable of automatically identifying such messages. The terminal MS2 unpacks the received message in such a manner that the miniature images and/or their identifiers are separated from the message into separate fields that are displayed (208) to the user of the terminal and from which the user can select using a pointer of the terminal. The user selects for instance by pointing the pointer at the miniature images or their identifiers, and, after having selected the desired images, the user acknowledges the selection. After this, an image request is formed for transmission back to the first terminal MS1 , the image request comprising either the identifiers of the desired miniature images or the actual miniature images, and the image request is transmitted (210) to the first terminal MS1. [0026] The first terminal MS1 checks the identifiers of the miniature images in the received image request and retrieves from the memory (212) the corresponding original image files. After this, the requested original image files are transmitted (214) to the second terminal MS2 for instance as file transfer over a data link or as attachments to a message (or messages), such as an e- mail message or MMS message. File transfer can preferably take place for instance using a GPRS protocol with a WAP or TCP/IP protocol on top of it as the transfer protocol, and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) data transfer. It is also possible that the transmission of the image files is delayed to a later time, if a higher-quality telecommunications connection or one that is less expensive is desired for the transmission of the image files. [0027] This procedure provides the advantage that it enables the user of the first terminal to easily, quickly and advantageously to offer image files and other multimedia files for sharing with other users of terminals. Correspondingly, it is extremely simple for the user of the second terminal to form the image request from the offered miniature images. The procedure permits full mobility for both terminals without the users of the terminals having to meet or either of them having to establish a connection to a server requiring access rights for the purpose of browsing the files. [0028] A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the flow chart of Figure 3. In this embodiment, the starting point is storing the image files of the first terminal not in the memory of the terminal but on a network server, from which the image files are then offered for sharing to the other users of terminals. The user of the first terminal MS1 thus selects (300) from the image files stored in the memory of the terminal the ones that s/he wants to share with the other users of terminals. These image files are transferred or copied (302) as such to the network server SR. After this, a message for sharing multimedia files is generated as described above from the images to be offered for sharing, and, in this case, the message comprises miniature images formed of the original images, their unique identifiers, and possibly other data attached to the message. In this embodiment, address information on the network server is also attached to the message for the purpose of transmitting the image request. In the example of Figure 3, the message is created in the first terminal MS1 , but it can also be created controlled by the first terminal MS1 in the server SR. After the message is created, it is transmitted (304) to the second terminal MS2. [0029] The second terminal MS2 receives (306) the message and identifies it as a specific message for sharing multimedia files. The terminal MS2 unpacks the miniature images and/or their identifiers from the received message into separate fields that are displayed (308) to the user of the terminal and from which the user selects using a pointer of the terminal. The address information of the network server is also separated from the message. After this, an image request comprising either the identifiers of the desired miniature images or the actual miniature images is formed and transmitted (310), in this embodiment, to the network server SR. [0030] The network server SR checks the identifiers of the miniature images in the received image request and retrieves from the memory (312) the corresponding original image files. After this, the requested original image files are transmitted (314) to the second terminal MS2 as file transfer over a data link or as attachments to a message. It is also possible that the server SR only transmits to the second terminal MS2 the network addresses of the images in the image request, such as IP-based URL addresses, at which the user of the terminal MS2 can browse the original image files with the network browser of the terminal and download them. [0031] In this embodiment, the user of the first terminal can prefera- bly free some of the memory of the terminal by transferring the image files offered for sharing to the network server. However, the user of the terminal controls the creation and transmission of the message for sharing the multimedia files. The second terminal also does not need to establish a connection to a server requiring access rights for browsing the files. [0032] One variation to the second embodiment described above is yet another embodiment, in which the terminal MS2 making the image request to the server SR asks the server SR to transmit the original image files not to the terminal MS2 but to some other storage medium, such as the network server of the user of the terminal MS2. In the above flow chart of Figure 3, the image request (310) transmitted by the second terminal MS2 then also comprises a network address of the storage medium, to which the original image files are to be transmitted, and, correspondingly, the server SR transmits the image files (314) to said network address instead of the second terminal MS2. [0033] In the case that the image files are transmitted from the server to the second terminal, the administrator of the server can bill the user of the second terminal for the transmission of the images. Price parameters are defined for the image files, and the price parameters are summed on the basis of the order made by the second terminal, and the billing information of the order is formed from them. Billing can take place for instance in such a manner that the payment for the transmission of the images is added to the telephone bill of the user of the second terminal. Alternatively, it is possible to use a credit card or e-payment, in which case the payment is made directly between the user of the second terminal and the sender of the images. Naturally, costs may also arise to the user of the second terminal from the trans- mission of the images over a telecommunications connection. The user of the first terminal can also be billed for storing the images on the server. [0034] In file transfer from one terminal to another, the application can serve as an interface to the service. Downloading the application to the terminal can then be charged in manners known per se. In addition, the appli- cation can record performed image file transfers and, on the basis of the thus collected information, users can be billed in their telephone bills, for instance. The application can also be a lease application, in which case lease is charged for using it on the terminal. [0035] To transfer original image files between terminals or between a terminal and server, it is in certain situations (short physical distance) possi- ble to use a short-range wireless radio connection, such as a Bluetooth or WLAN connection, or infrared-based data transfer, such as an IrDA connection, whereby data transfer through a mobile network is avoided and, consequently, no data transfer costs arise. [0036] Figures 4a and 4b illustrate by means of simplified user inter- face views the creation of a message of the invention intended for sharing files on the first terminal. In Figure 4a, image files in the memory of the terminal are displayed to the user by means of an image application of the terminal. The user of the terminal selects from the stored image files the ones that s/he wants to attach to the message intended for file sharing. [0037] Figure 4b shows one example of such a message. Miniature images of the selected files are attached to the message. In addition, a unique identifier is formed for each miniature image and attached to the 'imageinfo' field, and, by means of the unique identifiers, the selected image files are identified and the miniature images linked to the original image files. The message of Figure 4b also comprises a field for a greeting text. [0038] Above, the invention is illustrated by way of example through the sharing of still image files, but the procedure of the invention can correspondingly be applied to any multimedia files. For instance, it is possible to attach to the above message for sharing multimedia files a short clip of large video or audio files or only one image that can, if necessary, be compressed into a yet smaller size by using compression that is more efficient than the normal one. Especially with large multimedia files, it is preferable to use the procedure according to Figure 3, in which the multimedia files to be shared are stored on a network server. Further, the procedure can be applied to different document files, of which a short abstract, for instance, can be attached to the message for sharing multimedia files. The procedure is especially applicable to presentation graphics files (e.g. PowerPoint® files), in which case a set of presentation slides in miniature can be attached to the message for sharing multimedia files, which the recipient can use to order the necessary slides in original format. [0039] In a wireless terminal, the functions of the invention can preferably be implemented by software SW downloaded to the terminal, which, when executed in the central processing unit CPU, makes the mobile station MS to perform actions according to the invention. The functions of the software SW can be distributed to several separate software components that communicate with each other. The software can be stored on any storage medium, such as the hard disk of a PC or a CD-ROM disk, from which it can be downloaded to the memory MEM of the terminal MS. The software can also be downloaded through the network by using a TCP/IP protocol stack, for in- stance. It is also possible to use hardware solutions or a combination of hardware and software solutions to implement the inventive means. [0040] Thus, the software SW1 , by means of which the first terminal MS1 controls the sharing of files, such as multimedia files, with other terminals, may preferably comprise a software code portion, such as a sub-process, for controlling the storage of files on the memory medium; and a software code portion for transmitting identifiers describing the content of a group of files to a second terminal in a message, the identifiers being pointable by the second terminal for the purpose of selecting and ordering at least one of the files or a part thereof from the memory medium by using a reply message. [0041] In addition, the software SW1 can preferably comprise a software code portion for compressing multimedia files or parts thereof into a smaller size; and a software code portion for arranging them in one message according to the used message format for transmission to a second terminal. Further, the software SW1 can preferably comprise a software code portion for creating a unique identifier for each of the multimedia files for transmission together with the corresponding multimedia file in said message, the unique identifier being detachable as a parameter that is pointable by the user of the second terminal. [0042] The operation of the software SW1 and the first terminal MS1 it controls can yet be illustrated by means of the flow chart of Figure 5. First, the user of the first terminal MS1 selects (500) from the files stored in the memory of the terminal the ones that s/he wants to offer for sharing with other terminal users. After this, the memory medium (502) to be used in sharing the files is selected; in other words, whether to use the memory of the terminal or that of a network server. If the user selects the memory of the network server, the files selected for sharing are transferred or copied (504) to the network server SR. After this, a message (506) of the invention intended for sharing files is formed of the files selected for sharing, and the address information of the network server is also attached to the message for the purpose of transmitting a file request. If above (502) the memory of the terminal is selected, a message (508) of the invention intended for sharing files is also formed, but in this case the address information is any address information of the terminal, such as the subscriber number of the mobile station. [0043] In the flow chart of Figure 5, the rest of the steps are described together in such a manner that the next step is the transmission (510) of the message from the selected memory medium to one or more terminals. After this, the memory medium receives (512) a file request, in response to which the corresponding original files are retrieved (514) from the memory medium. The requested original files are transmitted (516) to the requesting terminal as file transfer over a data link or as attachments to a message. [0044] Correspondingly, the software SW2, by means of which the second terminal MS2 can order files, such as multimedia files, can preferably comprise a software code portion, such as a sub-process, for displaying the files; a software code portion for identifying the message received by the terminal as a specific message for sharing files; a software code portion for sepa- rating the compressed files and/or their identifiers in the message into separate fields; and a software code portion for displaying the fields to the user of the terminal for selection using a pointer of the terminal. [0045] The above features of the invention of the server SR are most preferably implemented by software. Thus, the computer SW3 can pref- erably comprise a software code portion, such as a sub-process, for storing the group of files transmitted by the first terminal on a server; a software code portion for receiving from the second terminal a file order request defining at least one of the files in the group of files; and a software code portion for transmitting the files defined by the order request or the network addresses thereof to the second terminal or to the address defined by the user of the second terminal in the order request as file transfer over a data link or as attachments to at least one message, such as an e-mail or MMS message. [0046] It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that while the technology advances, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not limited to the examples described above, but can vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method for transmitting files to a terminal, wherein the storage of files on a server is at least partly controlled by a first terminal, characterized by transmitting from the first terminal to a second terminal in a message a group of identifiers describing the content of the files, the identifiers being pointable by the second terminal to select and order at least one of the files or a part thereof from the server.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by offering to the user of the first terminal files for selection; and forming said message on the basis of the selection made by the user of the first terminal.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized by receiving from the second terminal a reply message that comprises the identifier of at least one selected file or a part thereof.

4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterize d in that the second terminal is a wireless terminal and the files are multimedia files.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized by compressing the multimedia files or a part thereof into a smaller size; and arranging them into one message according to the used message format for transmission to the second terminal.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized by generating for each of the multimedia files a unique identifier which is transmitted together with the corresponding multimedia file in the message, and which unique identifier is separable as a parameter that is pointable by the user of the second terminal.

7. A method as claimed in any on of claims 4 to 6, character- ized by copying the group of multimedia files onto the server prior to transmitting the message to a second wireless terminal; and attaching to the message the network address of the server for the purpose of ordering the multimedia files.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, characterize d by identifying the message received at the second terminal as a specific message for sharing multimedia files; and separating from the message the compressed multimedia files and/or their identifiers into separate fields to be displayed to the user of the terminal and to select from using a pointer means in the terminal.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, characterized by generating an order request of multimedia files in response to the selection performed by the user of the second terminal, the order request comprising the compressed multimedia files or their identifiers; and transmitting the order request to the server containing the multimedia files.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the multimedia files defined in the order request or the network addresses thereof are transmitted to the second terminal or to an address defined by the user of the second terminal in the order request as file transfer over a data link or as attachments of at least one message, such as an e-mail or MMS message.

11. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multimedia file is a digital image, video, or audio file.

12. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized by billing the user of the first terminal for storing the files on the server.

13. A terminal comprising means for controlling at least partly the storage of files on a server, characterized in that the terminal comprises means for transmitting identifiers describing the content of a group of files to a second terminal in a message, the identifiers being pointable by the second terminal to select and order at least one of the files or a part thereof from the server.

14. A terminal as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the terminal also comprises means for offering files to the user of the terminal for selection; and means for creating the message on the basis of the selection made by the user of the terminal.

15. A terminal as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the files are multimedia files.

16. A terminal as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the terminal comprises means for compressing the multimedia files or parts thereof into a smaller size; and means for arranging them into one message according to the used message format for transmission to the second terminal.

17. A terminal as claimed in claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the terminal comprises means for generating a unique identifier for each of the multimedia files for transmission together with the corresponding multimedia file in the message, the unique identifier being separable as a parameter that is pointable by the user of the second terminal.

18. A terminal as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, character i z e d in that the terminal is arranged to copy the group of multimedia files onto the server prior to transmitting the message to the second terminal; and attach to the message the network address of the server for the purpose of ordering the multimedia files.

19. A software product which, when downloaded into a terminal, is arranged to control the operation of the terminal comprising a software code portion for controlling at least partly the storage of files on a server, characterized in that the software product comprises a software code portion for transmitting identifiers describing the content of a group of files to a second terminal in a message, the identifiers being pointable by the second terminal for selecting and ordering at least one of the files or a part thereof from the server.

20. A software product as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the software product comprises a software code portion for offering the files for the selection of the user of the terminal; and a software code portion for creating the message on the basis of the selection made by the user of the terminal.

21. A software product as claimed in claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the software product comprises a software code portion for compressing multimedia files or parts thereof into a smaller size; and a software code portion for arranging them in one message according to the used message format for transmission to the second terminal.

22. A software product as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the software product comprises a software code portion for creating a unique identifier for each multimedia file for transmission together with the corresponding multimedia file in said message, the unique identifier being detachable as a parameter that is pointable by the user of the second terminal.

23. A terminal comprising means for displaying files, characterized in that the terminal comprises means for identifying a received message from another terminal as a specific message for sharing multimedia files; means for separating compressed multimedia files in the message and/or their identifiers into separate fields; and means for displaying the fields to the user of the terminal for selecting using a pointer of the terminal.

24. A terminal as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that the terminal comprises means for forming an order request for files in response to the selection made by the user of the terminal, the order request comprising the compressed files or their identifiers; and means for transmitting the order request to the server comprising the files.

25. A software product which, when downloaded into a terminal, is arranged to control the operation of the terminal comprising a software code portion for displaying files, characterized in that the software product comprises a software code portion for identifying the message received by the terminal as a specific message for sharing files; a software code portion for separating the compressed files and/or their identifiers in the message into separate fields; and a software code portion for displaying the fields to the user of the terminal for selection using a pointer of the terminal.

26. A data processing device that is arranged to receive and store into memory a group of files transmitted by a first terminal, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the data processing device is arranged to receive from a second terminal an order request for files, which defines at least one of the files in the group of files; and transmit the files defined in the order request or the network addresses thereof to the second terminal or an address defined by the user of the second terminal in the order request as file transfer over a data link or as attachments of at least one message.

27. A software product for controlling a server, which software prod- uct comprises a software code portion for storing a group of files transmitted by a first terminal to the server, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the software product also comprises a software code portion for receiving an order request for files from a second terminal, the order request defining at least one of the files in the de- fined group of files; and a software code portion for transmitting the files defined in the order request or the network addresses thereof to the second terminal or to an address defined by the user of the second terminal in the order request as file transfer over a data link or as attachments to at least one message.

28. A method for generating billing information in a file distribution process, the method comprising: controlling at least partly the storage of files onto a server by a first terminal, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by defining a price parameter for the files to be stored; transmitting from the first terminal to a second terminal a group of identifiers describing the content of the files in a message, the identifiers being pointable by the second terminal for selecting and ordering at least one of the files or a part thereof from the server; in response to an order request for files transmitted by the second terminal, transmitting the files defined in the order request from the server to the second terminal as file transfer over a data link or as attachments to at least one message; and generating, on the basis of the price parameters of the files defined in the order request, billing information for the order for billing the user of the second terminal.