METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ROUTING INTER-CARRIER MESSAGING APPLICATION TRAFFIC VIA A CARRIER-ASSIGNED IDENTIFIER

• US 20100151866A1
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Ye, Karpov, Sergei
• Application Number:
  US12/335,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20100151866A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

An approach is provided for routing inter-carrier messaging traffic between a messaging application on a first carrier and a messaging device on a second carrier using a carrier-assigned identifier.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

assigning a carrier-assigned identifier defined within a first carrier network to a messaging application;

originating messaging traffic between the messaging application and a device operating in a second carrier network; and

routing the messaging traffic between the messaging application and the device based on the carrier-assigned identifier.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the first carrier network and the second carrier network are operated by respective communication service providers, and the carrier-assigned identifier includes a mobile directory number (MDN) or a mobile subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN).

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the messaging traffic is a short message service (SMS) or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving a policy associated with the carrier-assigned identifier; and

applying the retrieved policy to the messaging traffic.

5. A method of claim 4, wherein the policy is set by an operator of the first carrier network, or a provider of the messaging application.

6. A method of claim 4, wherein the policy includes restricting spam or unintended messages.

7. A method of claim 4, wherein the messaging application includes one of schedule announcement, advertisement message, or emergency alerts.

8. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking the messaging traffic for compliance with the policy.

9. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an allocation of a plurality of identifiers from an external entity.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to assign a carrier-assigned identifier defined within a first carrier network to a messaging application, and to originate messaging traffic between the messaging application and a device operating in a second carrier network,

wherein the processor is further configured to initiate routing of the messaging traffic between the messaging application and the device based on the carrier-assigned identifier.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first carrier network and the second carrier network are operated by respective communication service providers, and the carrier-assigned identifier includes a mobile directory number (MDN) or a mobile subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN).

12. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the messaging traffic is a short message service (SMS) or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

13. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve a policy associated with the carrier-assigned identifier, and to apply the retrieved policy to the messaging traffic.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the policy is set by an operator of the first carrier network, or a provider of the messaging application.

15. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the policy includes restricting spam or unintended messages.

16. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the messaging application includes one of schedule announcement, advertisement message, or emergency alerts.

17. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to tracking the messaging traffic for compliance with the policy.

18. An apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive an allocation of a plurality of identifiers from an external entity.

19. A system comprising:

a database configured to store a plurality of policies; and

a platform configured to assign a carrier-assigned identifier defined within a first carrier network to a messaging application, to originate messaging traffic between the messaging application and a device operating in a second carrier network, and to route the messaging traffic between the messaging application and the device based on the carrier-assigned identifier,

wherein the platform is further configured to apply one or more of the policies to the messaging traffic based on the carrier-assigned identifier.

20. A system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the policies is set by an operator of the first carrier network, or a provider of the messaging application.