GB2387079A

GB2387079A - Text messaging services between mobile telephone networks and fixed telephone networks

Info

Publication number: GB2387079A
Application number: GB0306612A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeff Wilson
Original assignee: Intellprop Ltd
Current assignee: Intellprop Ltd
Priority date: 2002-03-25
Filing date: 2003-03-24
Publication date: 2003-10-01
Also published as: GB0306612D0; GB0223791D0; GB2387073A; GB0206985D0

Abstract

The invention provides an efficient means for communicating text messages from a mobile terminal (1) in a mobile network (2) connected to a fixed network (4). An SMS router (5) is configured to identify by inspection of a destination number with the text message signal, and to divert such calls to SMS transmission equipment (7) in the fixed network. This avoids the need to provide an adapted, and relatively costly, short message service centre (SMSC) in the mobile network.

Description

; 2387079

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to telecommunication services apparatus, and in particular to text messaging services between mobile telephone networks 5 and fixed telephone networks.

Background to the Invention

In GSM the Short Message Service (SMS) allows Mobile Stations (MS) to send short text messages. The messages are normally routed via a Short Message Service Centre (SMSC) which provides a store and 10 forward function. The SMSC will attempt to deliver the message to its destination which may be another MS or a host address in the same or another network.

Following the great success of SMS in mobile networks, the Short Message Service began to be introduced in fixed telephone networks.

15 This was achieved using specialised equipment ("SMS transmission equipment") and new terminals which communicated over standard telephone lines using modem techniques. The SMS transmission equipment was usually connected to the Short Message Service Centre using a proprietary protocol. This architecture led to a usability problem 20 with SMS transmission between mobile networks and fixed networks because the SMSC to which the SMS transmission equipment was attached would normally only be able to receive messages from subscribers of the mobile network that hosted the SMSC. However it was usually possible for fixed network subscribers to send short messages 25 to any mobile network. The inability to transmit messages between any mobile network and the fixed network is both a problem for users and also a lost revenue opportunity for mobile and fixed operators.

The present invention can assist in solving the connectivity problem between multiple networks and the fixed network. It can also allow any mobile operator to obtain access to the SMS transmission equipment in the fixed telephone network.

5 When a short message is transmitted by a subscriber of a mobile telephone network, the message normally first passes to the SMSC of the subscriber's network. The SMSC will then check that the originating subscriber's telephone number corresponds to that of a current subscriber to the network. Where mobile number portability has been implemented 10 this check also requires that messages from subscribers who have ported in to the mobile network are accepted, while messages from subscribers who have ported out from the network are rejected. The SMSC also checks the destination number for the message in order to determine how to deliver it. The SMSC uses the destination mobile telephone number 15 (MSISDN) to create a signalling query to the Home Location Register (HLR) in the destination network, which may be the same network or a different network. If the destination network is not a mobile telephone network, then this signalling query will not be possible. Networks which have implemented a short message interconnect to a fixed network will, 20 at this point be able to pass short messages destined for that fixed network over this interconnect. Short messages destined for other fixed networks will fail. For networks which have not implemented an interconnect to a fixed network, this will cause all messages destined for fixed networks to fail at this point.

25 It is also known that short message transmission between fixed and mobile networks is possible. The fixed network operator that wishes to enable this functionality must install specialised network equipment, and supply suitable terminals that allow text messages to be transmitted over

normal telephone lines to fixed terminals. However for interconnect to the mobile networks, a connection to an operator's SMSC is required.

This requires the mobile operator to make changes to his SMSCs in order to allow traffic destined for the fixed network to be passed over an 5 interface to the fixed network. Implementing changes to SMSCs can be difficult and expensive, and the fixed operator needs to interconnect independently with every mobile network.

Summaries of the Invention According to one aspect of the invention we provide telecommunications 10 services apparatus for processing text message signals in a mobile telephone network, the apparatus comprising: determining means for determining whether a text message signal received from a mobile terminal is intended for a destination in the or another mobile telephone network, or for a destination in a fixed telephone network; and diverting 15 means for diverting the text message signal away from a store and forward means in the mobile telephone network when it is determined that the text message signal is intended for a destination in the fixed telephone network, and operable to deliver the text message signal to text message transmission equipment in the fixed telephone network for 20 onward transmission to the intended destination therein.

The determining means and the diverting means are conveniently constituted by an SMS Router.

The store and forward means preferably comprises a short message service centre (SMSC).

The determining means is preferably operable to determine the intended network on the basis of a destination number within the text message signal. According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a method of 5 processing text message signals in a mobile telephone network, the method comprising: determining whether a text message signal received from a mobile terminal is intended for a destination in the or another mobile telephone network or for a destination in a fixed telephone network; and diverting the text message signal away from a store and 10 forward means in the mobile telephone network when it is determined that the text message signal is intended for a destination in the fixed telephone network, and delivering the text message signal to text message transmission equipment in the fixed telephone network for onward transmission to the intended destination therein.

15 The invention can make use of the fact that many mobile networks are installing SMS Routers in the path of their mobile originated traffic.

This is in order to provide network protection against peak traffic loading caused by mass messaging events, and also to provide other intelligent services. These SMS Routers are able to groom traffic, ie to filter and 20 selectively route traffic according to its addressing or content. In the context of this invention, SMS Routers are able to groom traffic for one or more fixed networks, by examination of the destination number. Thus traffic can then be sent over an interconnect to the fixed operator's SMS transmission equipment for onward transmission to fixed terminals.

25 The invention provides an alternative to modification of the SMSC, and can be very cost effective. The advantages are particularly great for operators who have already installed, or are considering installation of

SMS Routers for other applications, although it would be possible to install one or more SMS Routers specifically for this purpose.

The invention can allow additional short message traffic to the fixed network to be supported without the need for any proprietary or 5 specialised interface to an SMSC. It can also allow the fixed network to receive short message traffic from multiple mobile networks. A mutually beneficial commercial arrangement may be reached between the mobile network and the fixed network for cross charging for transmission and delivery of short messages. In this way both operators benefit from a 10 share in the revenue from SMS traffic which otherwise would not have-

been possible. This traffic also encourages reply traffic, which can further boost revenue for both operators.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing Figure 1 which is a 15 schematic block circuit diagram showing transmission of a text message between a mobile subscriber and a fixed network subscriber by use of an SMS router configured in accordance with the invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figure 1, a mobile user associated with a mobile network 2 20 transmits a short text message from a mobile terminal 1. The message is addressed to a telephone number of a subscriber terminal 3 in an associated fixed telephone network 4. The message also carries a Short Message Service Centre address. The network 2 is configured to route all mobile originated short messages via SMS Routers, such as SMS 25 Router 5, which are able to filter the messages en route to the SMSC 6.

The SMS Routers of network 2 are able to distinguish traffic destined for the fixed network 4 by means of distinct number ranges used in the first part of the network address. For example, in the IJK all mobile telephone numbers begin 07, while fixed line telephone numbers begin 01 or 02.

5 It would also be possible to allow mobile users to obtain access to other fixed line services such as non-geographic numbers, premium rate numbers and special rate numbers where these are adapted to support reception of SMS or other messaging services.

White lists on the SMS Router 5 can be used to determine which number 10 prefixes were groomed, and to which network.

The SMS Routers may be autonomous or connected to an SAIS Service Controller which can provide centralised intelligence. In the illustrated example the SMS Routers serve to groom all MO SMS traffic that is destined for the associated fixed telephone network 4. The groomed 15 traffic is routed, either over SS7 or over an alternative interface and directed over an interconnect to the fixed network 4 and addressed to the SMS transmission equipment 7 which is adapted to transmit the short message to a fixed line terminal 3. Traffic that is not groomed in this way is passed transparently to the SMSC 6.

20 The SMS Router 5 can be configured to produce call detail records or billing records as required for use in recharging the users for sending text messages.

SMS transmission from the fixed network to a mobile telephone network can be achieved in a number of ways. The fixed telephone network may 25 have interconnects to multiple mobile networks, and may interpret the destination number of the message to decide to which network to send the

message. The fixed network will not normally have any information regarding mobile numbers that have been ported between networks, and so will generally direct messages towards the Number Range Holder network. Alternatively, the fixed network may send all messages over an 5 interconnect to one mobile network.

Claims

1. Telecommunications services apparatus (5) for processing text message signals in a mobile telephone network (2), the apparatus comprising: determining means for determining whether a text message 5 signal received from a mobile terminal is intended for a destination in the or another mobile telephone network, or for a destination in a fixed telephone network; and diverting means for diverting the text message signal away from a store and forward means (6) in the mobile telephone network (2) when it is determined that the text message signal is intended 10 for a destination (3) in the fixed telephone network (4), and operable to deliver the text message signal to text message transmission equipment (7) in the fixed telephone network (4) for onward transmission to the intended destination (3) therein.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the store and forward 15 means comprises a short message service centre (6).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the determining means is operable to determine the intended network on the basis of a destination number within the text message signal.

4. A method of processing text message signals in a mobile telephone 20 network (2), the method comprising: determining whether a text message signal received from a mobile terminal (1) is intended for a destination in the or another mobile telephone network, or for a destination in a fixed telephone network (4); and diverting the text message signal away from a store and forward means (6) in the mobile telephone network (2) when it 25 is determined that the text message signal is intended for a destination in the fixed telephone network (4), and delivering the text message signal to

text message transmission equipment (7) in the fixed telephone network for onward transmission to the intended destination (3) therein.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the store and forward means (6) comprises a short message service centre (6).

5

6. A method according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the determining step determines the intended network (4) on the basis of a destination number within the text message signal.