Method and device for forwarding short messages from a mobile terminal

• US 20030154257A1
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Azzurro Investment AG
• Original Assignee: Azzurro Investment AG
• Inventors: Hantsch, Maximilian, Guggisberg, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 7,568,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for routing short messages sent by a mobile terminal from a foreign network to an external short-message entity, and a device for carrying out the method. It is the object of the invention to reach an external short-message entity (8), for instance a software application, which runs on a computer in a data network (9), from a mobile telephone (1) from any desired foreign network (10). This object according to the invention is solved in that the inquiry of the of the short-message service center (12) of the foreign network (10) to the home network (7) occurs at a virtual home location register (14) of the home network (7), based on the receiver number of the external short-message entity (8), which virtual home location register replies to the inquiry with an acknowledgment containing information on a virtual mobile switching center (15) of the home network (7), via which the short message (SMS) is to be transmitted to the external short-message entity (8).

Claims

1. A method for routing short messages (SMS) sent by a mobile terminal, for instance a mobile telephone (1), from a foreign network (10) to a receiver within the home network (7) of the mobile terminal, which receiver is an external short-message entity (8) having a receiver number and being different from a mobile terminal and connected with the home network (7), for instance a computer, wherein a short message-service center (12) of the foreign network (10) transmits an inquiry about the validity and availability of the receiver number of the external short-message entity (8) to the home network (7), characterized in that the inquiry of the of the short-message service center (12) of the foreign network (10) to the home network (7) occurs at a virtual home location register (14) of the home network (7), based on the receiver number of the external short-message entity (8), which virtual home location register replies to the inquiry with an acknowledgment containing information on a virtual mobile switching center (15) of the home network (7), via which the short message (SMS) is to be transmitted to the external short-message entity (8).

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the inquiry of the short-message service center (12) of the foreign network (10) to the home network (7) and the reply of the home network (7) to the short-message service center (12) of the foreign network (10) as well as the transmission of the short message (SMS) to the virtual mobile switching center (15) are accomplished using an SS7 (signaling system no. 7) protocol.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in the transmission of the short message (SMS) between the virtual mobile switching center (15) and the external short-message entity (8), or a data network (9) comprising the external short-message entity (8), for instance the internet, is accomplished using a TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internet protocol)-based protocol.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the transmission of the short message (SMS) between the virtual mobile switching center (15) and the external short-message entity (8), or a data network (9) comprising the external short-message entity (8), for instance the internet, is accomplished using a short-message peer-to-peer protocol (SMPP).

5. A device for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, including a short-message service center (12) in the foreign network (10) of the mobile terminal (1) sending the short message (SMS) and an external short-message entity (8) having a receiver number and being different from a mobile terminal of the home network (7), said external short-message entity (8) being connected with the home network (7), characterized in that a computer unit (17) is provided in the home network (7), which, upon inquiry of the short-message service center (12) of the foreign network (10) whether the receiver number of the external short-message entity (8) is valid and available, replies with an instruction containing the acknowledgment of the validity of the receiver number of the external short-message entity (8) and information on a virtual mobile switching center (15) to which the short message (SMS) is to be sent.

6. A device 5, characterized in that the external short-message entity (8) is comprised of a computer arranged in a data network (9), for instance the internet.

7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that the connection between the computer in the data network (9) and the home mobile radio network (7) is comprised of a network connection (16).