System and method for transporting digital speech and digital pictures

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is directed to telecommunications systems and methods for transmitting digital images produced by a digital camera attached to or integrated with a mobile station from the mobile station to a receiving terminal through the Internet.
A calling mobile subscriber can select the digital image to transmit and dial the number associated with the receiving terminal on the mobile station.
The digital image is sent through the Internet in parallel to the sending of another telecommunications connection, such as a voice or data call setup request or a short message, through the cellular or fixed network.
At the end office serving the receiving terminal, the telecommunications connection is associated with the digital image and a connection is established between the calling mobile subscriber and the receiving terminal.
When the connection is established, the end office serving the receiving terminal sends the digital image to the receiving terminal.
Advantageously, by sending the digital image through the Internet, the load on the cellular and fixed networks is reduced and the costs to the mobile subscriber for the transmission of digital images to a receiving terminal are reduced.