Flexible capacity short message service center (SMSC)

• US 20100075700A1
• Filed: 08/26/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Meyer, Dennis F., Casto, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/461,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20100075700A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

The present invention takes the advantages of a First-Delivery-Attempt (FDA) system/Short Message Service Center (SMSC) combination. The FDA/SMSC combination has the advantages of SS7-clustering and IP load-distribution, and adds call-flow and business logic to eliminate the disadvantages created in stand-alone architectures using those technologies in isolation. All messages can be addressed to a single destination, with the FDA/SMSC combination performing load distribution for delivery of the messages. Nodes can be added to the message processing system to increase capacity, with no configuration changes being required in an SS7 network or an external IP network.

Claims

1. A system for delivery of packetized messages, comprising:

a first-delivery-attempt system adapted to attempt a first delivery of a packetized message routed to said first-delivery-attempt system, and if said first-delivery-attempt system is unsuccessful in delivery of said packetized message forwarding said packetized message to a multiple delivery attempt system where each systems shares access to a subscriber database;

said first-delivery-attempt system providing any necessary meta-data in addition to the patcketized message to enable said multiple delivery attempt system to perform appropriate billing, routing, or other functions even though it was not the original recipient of the packetized message;

said subscriber database being accessible by both the first-delivery-attempt-system and multiple-delivery-attempt-system to provide data elements describing profile information of originators and/or terminating subscribers for the packetized message; and

said multiple delivery attempt system being adapted to subsequently repeatedly attempt delivery as necessary of said packetized message.

2. The system for delivery of packetized messages according to claim 1, wherein said first-delivery-attempt system comprises:

a cluster of first-delivery-attempt modules.

3. The system for delivery of packetized messages according to claim 1, wherein said multiple delivery attempt system comprises:

a multiple-delivery-attempt module.

4. The system for delivery of packetized messages according to claim 1, wherein said subscriber database system comprises:

a subscriber related database.

5. The system for delivery of packetized messages according to claim 1, wherein:

said packetized message is addressed to said first-delivery-attempt system using one of;

a single SS7 point code, and a single Internet Protocol (IP) address

6. The system for delivery of packetized messages according to claim 1, wherein:

said packetized message is a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) digital message.

7. The system for delivery of packetized messages according to claim 1, wherein:

said packetized message is a short message service center (SMSC) digital message.

8. The system for delivery of packetized messages according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second multiple delivery attempt system adapted to be added to said system for delivery of packetized messages forwarded by said first-delivery-attempt system without requiring a service center address change for said packetized messages.

9. A method of delivering packetized messages, comprising:

attempting a first delivery of a packetized message from a first short message service center (SMSC) delivery component;

forwarding delivery responsibility for said packetized message to a second SMSC component if said attempted delivery of said packetized message by said first SMSC delivery component is unsuccessful;

subsequently repeatedly attempting delivery of said packetized message from said second SMSC delivery component as necessary; and

accessing subscriber data in a subscriber database component that is available to both the first and second SMSC delivery components.

10. The method of delivering packetized messages according to claim 9, wherein said first-delivery-attempt system comprises:

a cluster of first-delivery-attempt modules.

11. The method of delivering packetized messages according to claim 9, further comprising:

storing pending message data in said second SMSC delivery component.

12. The method of delivering packetized messages according to claim 9, further comprising:

accessing and storing subscriber-related data in a subscriber database component accessible by both the said first and second SMSC delivery component.

13. The method of delivering packetized messages according to claim 9, wherein:

said packetized message is addressed to said first SMSC delivery component using one of;

a single SS7 point code, and a single Internet Protocol (IP) address.

14. The method of delivering packetized messages according to claim 9, wherein:

said packetized message is a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) digital message.

15. The method of delivering packetized messages according to claim 9, wherein:

said packetized message is a Short Message Service Center (SMSC) message.

16. The method of delivering packetized messages according to claim 9, further comprising:

adding a second multiple delivery attempt system to said system for delivery of packetized messages without requiring a service center address change for said packetized messages.

17. Apparatus for delivering packetized messages comprising:

means for attempting a first delivery of a packetized message from a first short message service center (SMSC) delivery component;

means for forwarding delivery responsibility for said packetized message to a second SMSC component if said attempted delivery of said packetized message by said first SMSC delivery component is unsuccessful; and

means for subsequently repeatedly attempting delivery of said packetized message from said second SMSC delivery component as necessary.

18. The apparatus for delivering packetized messages according to claim 17, wherein said means for attempting a first delivery comprises:

a cluster of first-delivery-attempt modules.

19. The apparatus for delivering packetized messages according to claim 17, further comprising:

means for storing subscriber-related data in said second SMSC delivery component.

20. The apparatus for delivering packetized messages according to claim 17, wherein:

said packetized message is addressed to said first SMSC delivery component using one of;

a single SS7 point code, and a single Internet Protocol (IP) address.

21. The apparatus for delivering packetized messages according to claim 17, wherein:

said packetized message is a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) digital message.

22. The apparatus for delivering packetized messages according to claim 17, wherein:

said packetized message is a Short Message Service Center (SMSC) message.