Managing text message traffic in mobile telephone networks

• US 20040171393A1
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solent Text Limited
• Original Assignee: Solent Text Limited
• Inventors: Harding, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/088 among core entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A grooming technique for managing text message traffic in mobile telephone networks, such as SMS text messages, involves directing certain text messages to a first delivery means (30) which attempts text message delivery one or more times to a destination mobile switching centre (22) or to a host (24) without passing through a store and forward function. Other text messages are directed to a second delivery means, involving a short message service centre (14), which provides a store and forward function for repeated attempted delivery of the text messages.

Claims

1. A method of managing text message traffic in a telecommunications services apparatus for processing text messages in a mobile telephone network, the method comprising

directing certain text messages to a first delivery means operable to attempt text message delivery without passing through a store and forward function, and

directing other text messages to a second delivery means providing a store and forward function for repeated attempted delivery of the text messages,

wherein the text messages are directed selectively to either said first or said second delivery means dependent on specific attributes of the text messages.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first delivery means is operable selectively to attempt text message delivery directly to a destination mobile switching centre.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first delivery means is operable selectively to attempt text message delivery to a destination text message host.

4. A method according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein a text message is initially directed to said first delivery means and, if the delivery attempt is unsuccessful, or the delivery attempts are unsuccessful, the undelivered text message is then directed to the second delivery means for repeated attempted delivery.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the text message attribute that determines the delivery path is the originating address of the message.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the text message attribute that determines the delivery path is the destination address of the message.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the text message attribute that determines the delivery path is contained within the content of the message.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the text message attribute that determines the delivery path is any combination of the originating address, the destination address and the message content.

9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first delivery means comprises a transaction converter.

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second delivery means comprises a short message service centre.

11. Text message management apparatus for managing text message traffic in a telecommunications services apparatus for processing text messages in a mobile telephone network, the text message management apparatus comprising:

first means for directing certain text messages to a first delivery means operable to attempt text message delivery without passing through a store and forward function, and

second means for directing other text messages to a second delivery means providing a store and forward function for repeated attempted delivery of the text messages,

wherein the text messages are directed selectively to either said first or said second delivery means dependent on specific attributes of the text messages.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first delivery means is operable selectively to attempt text message delivery directly to a destination mobile switching centre.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first delivery means is operable selectively to attempt text message delivery to a destination text message host.