MXPA00009249A - System and method for time defined delivery of short message service messages - Google Patents

Abstract

A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for allowing a mobile subscriber to define a date and time of delivery for a Short Message Service (SMS) message sent by the mobile subscriber to another mobile subscriber. This can be accomplished by transporting the date and time delivery information to the SMS Service Center along with the SMS message, where it can be stored until the requested time of delivery. Once the requested time of delivery occurs, the SMS message can be forwarded to desired mobile subscriber. Alternatively, the SMS message can be stored in either the Mobile Switching Center or the mobile terminal itself until the specified date and time of delivery is reached. Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention both allow mobile subscribers the ability to send messages to themselves at predetermined times, and allow a supervisor to program the delivery of an SMS message to employees.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUBMITTING, WITH DEFINITE TIME, MESSAGES FOR THE SERVICE OF SHORT MESSAGES BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates, in general, to telecommunications systems and methods for sending messages through the Short Message Services (SMS, Short Message Service) from mobile terminal to mobile terminal, and especially to allow the originating mobile terminal to control the time and date of the sending of the SMS message.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Cellular telecommunications is one of the fastest growing and most demanding telecommunications applications. It currently represents a large and growing percentage of all new phone subscribers worldwide. A standardization group, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI, European Institute of Standards for Telecommunications), was established in 1982 to formulate the specifications for the mobile cellular radio system, Digital Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM, Global System for Communication Mobile) in current use, and which is described in more detail herein, with reference now to Figure 1 of the drawings, a GSM Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN, GSM Land Mobile Public Network) is illustrated as a cellular network 10 which in turn is composed of a plurality of areas 12, each with a Mobile Services Center (MSC, Mobile Service Center) 14 and a Visitor Location Register (VLR, Visitor Location Register) integrated 16 therein. The MSC / VLR 12 areas, in turn, include a plurality of Location Areas (LA, Location Areas) 18, which are defined as that part of a given MSC / VLR area 12 in which a mobile station (MS) 20 it can move freely without having to send updated location information to the area of the MSC / VLR 12 that controls the LA 18. Each Location Area 12 is divided into different cells 22. The mobile station (MS) 20 is the physical equipment, for example , the car telephone or another portable telephone, used by mobile subscribers to communicate with cellular networks 10, each other, and users outside the subscribed network, in wired or wireless form. The MSC 14 is in communication with at least one Base Station Controller (BSC, Base Station Controller) 23, which in turn is in contact with at least one Base Transceiver Station (BTS, Base Transceiver Station) 24. The BTS is the physical equipment, illustrated by simplicity as a radio tower that provides radio coverage to the geographic part of the cell 22 for which it is responsible. It should be understood that the BSC 23 may be connected to different base transceiver stations 24, and may be established as a separate node or integrated with the MSC 14. In any case, the components BSC 23 and BTS 24, as a whole, are generally referred to as a Base Station Systems (BSS, Base Station System) 25. With reference to Figure 1, the service area of the PLMN or cellular network 10 includes a Home Location Register (HLR, Residence Location Register) 26, which is a database that maintains all subscriber information, for example, user profiles, current location information, International Mobile Subscriber Identity numbers (IMSI, International Mobile Subscriber Identity) and other administrative information. The HLR 26 may be co-located with a given MSC 14, integrated with the MSC 14 or otherwise may serve multiple MSCs 14, the latter of which is illustrated in Figure 1. The VLR 16 is a base of data containing information about all the mobile stations 20 currently located within the area of the MSC / VLR 12. If an MS 20 enters a new MSC / VLR area 12, the VLR 16 connected to this MSC 14 will request data about the station mobile 20 from the HLR database 26 (simultaneously informing the HLR 26 about the current location of the MS 20). Therefore, if the user of the MS 20 then wishes to make a call, the local VLR 16 will have the requisite identification information without having to interrogate again the HLR 26. In the manner described above, the VLR and HLR databases 16 and 26 , respectively, contain some information of the subscriber associated with a certain MS 20. Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, text messages, containing up to 160 alpha numeric characters, can be sent to and from the MS 200, using the Current technology of the Short Message Service (SMS, Short Message Service) 210. The SMS 210 uses a Service Center (Service Center) 220, which stores and sends the short messages to the MS 200. An SMS message 210 can be sent from the service center 220 to the MS 200 or from the MS 200 to the service center 220. The SMS 210 terminated in a mobile transfers a short message from the service center 220 to the MS 200. In addition, the information about the sending of the short message is returned to the service center 220. This information is a report of the shipment, which confirms the sending of the message to a recipient, or a failed report, which informs the service center 200 that the short message has not been sent and the reason for this . If the information is a failed report, the service center 220 has the ability to order subsequent retransmission. An SMS message terminated on a mobile is usually originated by a user 220 who sends a message to the service center 220, which then sends the message to the SMS Gateway Mobile Switching Center (SMS-GMSC, Short Message Service Center Mobile Gateway Switching) 250. Next, the SMS-GMSC 250 interrogates the HLR 260 to route the information pertaining to the designated MS 200. The HLR 260 returns this routing information to the SMS-GMSC 250, which can then route the message to the MSC / VLR 270 that serves the location area (LA) 205 where the MS 200 is located. If the MS 200 is in IDLE mode (not in use), the MS 200 is paged, and is set a connection between the MS 200 and the network 270, as in the case of establishing a normal call. The MSC / VLR 270 then sends the SMS message 210 to the MS 200. The SMS messages 210 are preferably transmitted in the assigned signaling channel. However, if the MS 200 is in busy mode (in use), the SMS 210 message will be transmitted to the Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH, Slow Associated Control Channel). In this case, no paging, call establishment or need for authorization is made. After the MSC / VLR 270 sends the SMS message 210 to the MS, a send report is sent from the server MSC / VLR 270 to the service center 220. If the sending of the message 210 was not successful, it is reported to the HLR 260, and a failure report is sent to the service center 220. In addition, if the sending was unsuccessful, a Messages Waiting service 215 within the service center 210 may optionally provide the HLR 260 and the MSC / VLR 270 server the information that there is a message in the originating service center 220 waiting to be sent to the MS 200. Once the MS 200 becomes available to receive the SMS 210 message, the HLR 260 informs the service center 220 and the SMS 210 message is sent again. The SMS message for a mobile terminal 210 may be introduced to the service center 220 by a variety of sources, for example, voice, telex or fax. An SMS message originated by a mobile can also be presented by the MS 200 to the service center 220. The MS 200 first establishes a connection to the network (the MSC / VLR 270 server), as in the case of a normal call setup. However, it should be noted that if the MS is in busy mode, a connection already exists. Once a connection is made to the server MSC / VLR 270 and authorization of the MS 200 is confirmed, the MS 200 can send the SMS message to the service center 220 via the server MSC / VLR 270 and the server BTS 230. The service center 220 in turn sends the SMS message 210 to its destination, which could be another MS (not shown), the originating MS 200 (in the case of a reminder message) or a user 240 in the network fixed, the last of which is illustrated in Figure 2. Once the SMS message 210 is sent to the end user 240, a shipment report or a failure report is sent to the service center 220. Currently, it is allows a mobile subscriber to send a Point to Point SMS message (SMS Point-to-Point Message) 210 to another mobile subscriber. However, the SMS 210 message is usually sent as soon as possible, without considering when the originator wishes it to be sent. Thus, the originator of the message has no control over when the SMS 210 message should be sent. Some options have been proposed to delay the transmission of SMS messages 210. For example, reference is made to the application of the European Patent EP 0 693 860 A2 of Nonami, in which the mobile subscriber can enter a time for the sending. of the SMS message to the MS, and the MS stores the SMS message until the time comes. However, this requires that the MS be turned on at the time of sending the SMS message to be transmitted at the correct time. Another option is described in the International PCT Application WO 95/12933 of Turcotte, in which the structure of the SMS message itself is modified to include information that determines the time. However, the modification of the SMS message requires the modification of all the nodes that receive and transmit the SMS message to process the time determination information added. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to allow a mobile subscriber to control the time of sending a Short Message Service message, sent by the mobile subscriber to another mobile subscriber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to telecommunications systems and methods for allowing a mobile subscriber to define a date and time of sending a Short Message Service (SMS) message sent by the mobile subscriber to another mobile subscriber. This can be carried out by transporting the shipping information with date and time to the SMS service center together with the SMS message, where this can be stored until the requested delivery time. Once the requested time of the shipment is reached, the message in SMS can be sent to the desired mobile subscriber. Otherwise, the SMS message can be stored in the Mobile Switching Center or the mobile terminal itself until the specified time and date of delivery arrives. For convenience, the embodiments of the present invention offer mobile subscribers the ability to send messages by themselves at predetermined times. In addition, the embodiments of the present invention will allow a supervisor to schedule the sending of an SMS message to remind employees of important events, such as meetings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The described inventions will be described with reference to the attached drawings, which show the important exemplary embodiments of the invention and which are incorporated in the specification thereof as a reference, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a diagram in blocks of a wireless, land-based, traditional telecommunications system; FIGURE 2 illustrates the sending of Short Message Service messages (SMS, Short Message Service) to and from a mobile terminal. FIGURE 3 shows the storage of an SMS message within an SMS service center until the requested time and date of dispatch is reached. FIGURE 4 represents the storage of an SMS message within a mobile switching center that serves the area in which the mobile terminal is located until the time and date requested for the shipment arrives; and FIGURE 5 illustrates the storage of an SMS message within the mobile terminal itself until the requested time and date of dispatch arrives.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ACTUALLY EXEMPLARY MODALITIES The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with particular reference to the currently preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that this class of modalities provides only some examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, the statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily delimit any of the different claimed inventions. In addition, some statements may apply to some features of the invention but not others. Referring now to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, an originator of a Short Message Service (SMS) message 310 can define the date and time for sending the SMS message 310 when the SMS message 310 is created. In a first mode of The present invention, if the originator of the SMS is a mobile subscriber, the mobile subscriber first establishes a connection between a mobile station 300 assigned to the mobile subscriber and an MSC / VLR 330 serving the location area 305 in which the MS is located. 300, as in the case of a normal call setup. However, it should be noted that if the MS 300 is in busy mode, a connection already exists.

Once the connection is made to the server MSC / VLR 330 and the authorization of the MS 300 is confirmed, the mobile subscriber can enter a service code, for example, * 99, on the keypad 302 of the MS 300 followed by the desired time and date of shipment. Then, the subscriber can enter the SMS message 310 that will be sent at the time and date defined. The MS 300 then sends the SMS message 310 together with the time and date information to the SMS service center 340 via the MSC / VLR 330 server and a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), Base Transceiver Station) server 320. The SMS service center 340 stores the SMS message 310 in a memory 345 up to the requested time of sending, at which time the SMS message 310 is sent to the desired end portion, eg, another MS 350. Once the SMS message 310 is sent to the final part 350, a delivery report or a failure report is sent to the SMS 340 service center. Once the SMS 340 service center receives an acknowledgment or confirmation of that the SMS message 310 has been sent, the SMS service center 340 can then send a message to the originating MS 300 informing the MS 300 of the time and date of the sending of the SMS message 310. However, if the SMS message 310 it was not sent to the desired end part 350, it is possible to send a message to the originating MS 300 informing the MS 300 that the SMS 310 message could not be sent.

In an alternative embodiment, as indicated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, the date and time information, which may be entered on the keyboard 402 of the MS 400 as already described above, together with the SMS 410 message, may be sent to and stored in the MSC / VLR 430 serving the location area (LA) 405 where the MS 400 is located, the SMS message 410 and the date and time information can be sent to the MSC / VLR 430 server via the server BTS 420 using an SMS message format or message format Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD, Complementary Unstructured Service Data).

Once the MSC / VLR 430 receives the SMS message 410 and the date and time information, the SMS message 410 is stored in a memory 435 within the MSC / VLR 430 until the specified time and date arrives. The MSC / VLR 430 monitors the system time and date information and when the requested time and date of dispatch matches the system time and date, the MSC / VLR 430 sends the SMS 410 message to the SMS 440 service center to send to the final part, for example, another MS 450. In another alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, the date and time information and the SMS 510 message are entered into the keyboard 502 of the MS 500 using function keys 504, instead of a service code, and stored in a memory 506, for example, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM, Subscriber Identity Module), within the MS 500 itself. The MS 500 periodically verifies the date and time of the transmission system and when the information of the date and time requested coincides with the date and time of the system, a USSD or SMS 508 application within the MS 500 generates the SMS message 510 and sends it to the MSC / VLR 530 server through the BTS server 520, which then sends the SMS message 510 to the SMS 540 service center for the final shipment to the final part 550. It should be understood that the final part 550 may be the originating MS 500. For example, the originating MS 500 may wish to have a reminder SMS message 510 sent to the MS 500 at a certain date and time. However, it must be understood that the MS 500 must be in communication with the server MSC / VLR 530, for example, the MS 500 must be "ON", so that the MS 500 receives the system time and date information. transmit and send the SMS message 510. If the mobile subscriber "turns OFF" the MS 500, then the SMS message 510 will not be sent until the MS 500 is "ON" again and the MS 500 determines that the requested time and date has arrived of the shipment Advantageously, the embodiments of the present invention allow mobile subscribers to send messages themselves at predetermined times. For example, a mobile subscriber may enter a message reminding the mobile subscriber of a meeting or other event before it happens. In addition, when defining the date and time of sending SMS messages, it allows a supervisor to schedule the sending of an SMS message to remind employees of important events, such as meetings or other functions. For example, a mobile subscriber can send an SMS message to his wife at a predefined time to remind the wife of dinner appointments, ask the wife to make a purchase on the way home or report a change of plans. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the innovative concepts described in the present application can be modified and varied in a wide variety of ways. Therefore, the scope of the patented matter should not be limited to any of the exemplary teachings specified and described. For example, it should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention can be applied to any cellular network, including, but not limited to, the Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, the AMPS network, -the D network. AMPS and the Personal Communications System (PCS) network.

Claims (13)

1. A telecommunications system for sending Short Message Service messages (310) from one of a plurality of mobile terminals (300) to an end user (350), the telecommunications system being characterized by: a mobile switching center (330) ) in wireless communication with the determined mobile terminal (300), the mobile switching center being adapted to receive a service code and a date and time defined by the user followed by the Short Message Service message (310) from the determined mobile terminal (300), the service code instructing the telecommunications system to send the Short Message Service message (310) to the end user (350) only at the time and date defined by the user; a service node (340) in communication with the mobile switching center (380), adapted to receive the Short Message Service message (310) from the mobile switching center (330), the service node (340) being further adapted to send the message of the Short Message Service (310) to the end user (350) at the time and date defined by the user; and a memory (345 or 435) within the telecommunications and remote system of the determined mobile terminal (300), the memory (345 or 435) being adapted to store the message of the Short Message Service (310) until the time is reached and date defined by the user.

2. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the memory (345) is within the service node (340).

3. The telecommunications system of claim 2, wherein the determined mobile terminal (300) has a keypad (302) therein adapted to receive the service code followed by the time and date defined by the user and the message of the user. Short Message Service (310), the mobile switching center (330) adapted to send the Short Message Service message (310) and the time and date defined by the user to the service node (340), using the service code. The telecommunication system of claim 3, further comprising an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data message adapted to contain the Short Message Service message (310), the mobile switching center (330) being adapted to receive the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data message. The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the memory (435) is within the mobile switching center (330). The telecommunications system of claim 5, wherein the determined mobile terminal (300) has a keyboard (302) therein adapted to receive the service code followed by the time and date defined by the user and the message of the Short Message Service (310), the mobile switching center (330) being adapted to send the Short Message Service message (310) to the service node (340) when the time and date defined by the user is reached. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the end user is an additional mobile terminal (350). 8. A method for sending a Short Message Service message (310) from one of a plurality of mobile terminals (300) within a telecommunications system to an end user (350), the method being characterized by the steps of: introducing , in the determined mobile terminal (300), a service code and a time and date defined by the user to send the Short Message Service (310) message to the end user (350), the service code instructing the telecommunications system to sending the Short Message Service message (310) to the end user (350) only at the time and date defined by the user; send, through the determined mobile terminal (300), the service code and the time and date defined by the user followed by the message of the Short Message Service (310) to a mobile switching center (330) in wireless communication with the determined mobile terminal (300); storing, within a memory (345 or 435) within the telecommunications and remote system of the determined mobile terminal (300) the message of the Short Message Service (310) until the time and date defined by the user arrives, and sending, by means of a service node (340) connected to the mobile switching center (330) the message Short Message Service (310) to the end user (350) at the time and date defined by the user. The method of claim 11 [sic], wherein the step of storing further comprises the step of: storing the Short Message Service message (310) within a memory (345) within the service node (340). The method of claim 12 [sic], further comprising the step of: sending the Short Message Service message (310) and the time and date defined by the user from the mobile switching center (330) to the service node ( 340), using the service code. The method of claim 13 [sic], wherein the Short Message Service message (310) is sent to the mobile switching center (330) using an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data message. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of storing further comprises the step of: storing the Short Message Service message (310) within a memory (345) within the mobile switching center (330). The method of claim 11, wherein the end user is an additional mobile terminal (350).