1. A method of submitting a message (MSG) to a telecommunications terminal (2) belonging to an addressee, which message has been deposited by a caller in an inbox (12) of a messaging server (1) of the addressee, the method comprising the following successive steps:
a first step (36) of sending a request to search for an illustration (8) from the voice messaging server (1) to a directory device (3),
a second step (40) of sending said illustration (8) from the directory device (3) to the messaging server (1),
a third step (42) of sending the deposited message (MSG) and said illustration (8) from the messaging server (1) to a multimedia messaging server centre (MMSC), and
a fourth step (46) of sending a multimedia message (MMS) containing at least said deposited message (MSG) and said illustration (8) from the multimedia messaging server centre (MMSC) to the terminal (2) of said addressee for direct consultation thereof on the telecommunications terminal (2) of the addressee.
2. A message submission method according to claim 1, wherein the illustration (8) is characteristic of the caller and the illustration search request contains means (7) for identifying the caller.
3. A message submission method according to claim 1, wherein said messaging server (1) is a voice messaging server, said deposited message (MSG) containing voice data.
4. A message submission method according to claim 2, further comprising a step (38) of searching for said illustration (8)in a database (6) of the directory device (3) on the basis of said identification means (7) and a step (44) of processing of the deposited message (MSG) and said illustration (8) by the multimedia messaging server centre (MMSC) to include them in a multimedia message (MMS).
5. A message submission method according to claim 4, including a preliminary step of storing the caller identification means (7) and an illustration (8) associated with said identification means in the database (5) of the directory device (3).
6. A message submission method according to claim 2, wherein the illustration (8) characteristic of the caller comprises a photo or a logo.
7. A message submission method according to claim 2, wherein said illustration (8) is replaced by a specific illustration if there is no stored illustration associated with the caller in said database (5).
8. A message submission method according to claim 2, wherein said illustration (8) is replaced by an alternative illustration characteristic of communication in a secret mode if the caller has activated a calling line offering refusal mode.
9. A message submission method according to claim 1, wherein the deposited message (MSG) also contains text data.
10. A message submission method according to claim 4, further comprising a step (32) of analyzing the deposited message (MSG) andor the inbox (12), done by a processing unit (16) of the messaging server (1) to establish information relating to said message or messages, the second sending step also comprises sending said information relating to said message or messages, and the processing step (14) comprises a step of introducing said information into said multimedia message (MMS).
11. A message submission method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of storing the deposited message (MSG) and the illustration in the inbox (12) of the messaging server (1) if the terminal (2) of the addressee cannot be contacted.
12. A message submission method according to claim 1, wherein the illustration comprises the logo of an operator or a promotional image.
13. A system for submitting a message deposited by a sender in an inbox (12) of a messaging server (1) of an addressee equipped with a telecommunications terminal (2), the system comprising:
in said messaging server (1):
a communications interface (14) to a multimedia messaging server centre (MMSC) for transmitting said deposited message (MSG) to said multimedia messaging server centre (MMSC), and
in the telecommunications terminal (2) of the addressee:
a communications interface (27) with said multimedia messaging server (MMSC) for receiving said multimedia message (MMS) containing said deposited message (MSG),
a multimedia message (MMS) multimedia client module (28) for reproducing said deposited message (MSG) directly on said telecommunications terminal (2).
14. A submission system according to claim 13, wherein the messaging server (1) is adapted to communicate with a directory device (3) to request an illustration (8) associated with the caller, said directory device comprising:
a database (5) comprising storage spaces (6) adapted to store illustrations, and
means (9) for searching for an illustration (8) in said database on the basis of identification means (7) sent by the messaging server (1).
15. A message submission system according to claim 13, wherein the telecommunications network (2) is a mobile telephone network andor a fixed telephone network.
16. A message submission system according to claim 13, wherein the communications interface of the messaging server is an XML interface and the system includes a gateway server (20) for converting the communications protocol into a protocol readable by the multimedia message server centre (MMSC).
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An applicator for use in an image forming apparatus comprising:
an applicator comprising an elastomeric matrix and a functional material dispersed therein; and
an actuator for moving the applicator between a first position having the applicator in contact with a surface, and a second position, the actuator moving the applicator from the first position to the second position at a pre-determined frequency wherein the functional material diffuses from the elastomeric matrix to the surface.
2. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the pre-determined frequency is from about 10\u22125 Hz to about 10 kHz.
3. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein a duty cycle for the contact in the first position is from about 5% to about 95%.
4. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the elastomeric matrix comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polysiloxane, polyurethane, polyester, polyfluorosilioxanes, polyolefin, fluoroelastomer, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, and mixtures thereof.
5. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the functional material is selected from the group consisting of alkanes, fluoroalkanes, alkyl silanes, fluoroalkyl silanes alkoxy-silanes, siloxanes, glycols or polyglycols, mineral oil, synthetic oil, natural oil, and mixtures thereof.
6. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the functional material comprises a paraffin oil.
7. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is selected from a piezo transducer, electrical motor, pneumatic actuator, hydraulic actuator, linear actuator, combo drive, thermal bimorphs and electroactive polymers.
8. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the second position comprises having the applicator in contact with the surface at a pressure on the surface less than that of the first position.
9. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the second position comprises having the applicator not in contact with the surface.
10. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator at an idle mode is lifted away from the surface.
11. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator at a running mode is moving between the first position and the second position.
12. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the surface comprises an image bearing surface or a contact charging surface.
13. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator is selected from the group consisting of a blade and a roller.
14. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a) an image bearing member;
b) a contact charging unit for applying an electrostatic charge on the image bearing member to a predetermined electric potential;
c) an exposing unit that exposes a surface of the image bearing member charged by the charging unit to form an electrostatic latent image;
d) a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image using a developer containing toner to form a toner image;
(e) a transferring unit that transfers the toner image to a recording medium;
(f) a cleaning unit that removes toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member;
g) an applicator disposed in contact with the surface of the image bearing member or a surface of the charging unit, wherein the lubricant applicator comprises:
an applicator comprising an elastomeric matrix and a functional material dispersed therein, wherein the applicator is positioned in contact with a surface of the imaging member or the charging unit; and
an actuator for moving the applicator between a first position having the applicator in contact with the surface, and a second position, the actuator moving the applicator from the first position to the second position at a pre-determined frequency wherein the functional material diffuses from the elastomeric matrix to the surface.
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the pre-determined frequency is from about 10\u22125 Hz to about 10 kHz.
16. The applicator of the imaging forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a duty cycle for the contact in the first position is from about 5% to about 95%.
17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the applicator is selected from the group consisting of a blade and a roller.
18. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a) an image bearing member
b) a contact charging unit for applying an electrostatic charge on the image bearing member to a predetermined electric potential;
c) an applicator wherein the applicator comprises:
an applicator comprising an elastomeric matrix and a functional material dispersed therein, wherein the applicator is positioned in contact with a surface of the imaging member or the charging unit; and
an actuator for moving the applicator between a first position having the applicator in contact with the surface, and a second position, the actuator moving the applicator from the first position to the second position at a pre-determined frequency wherein the functional material diffuses from the elastomeric matrix to the surface.
19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the pre-determined frequency is from about 10\u22125 Hz to about 10 kHz.
20. The imaging forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a duty cycle for the contact in the first position is from about 5% to about 95%.