System using portion of a short message payload to identify short message service types and delivering the message if user subscribes to the services

• US 5,903,726 A
• Filed: 06/26/1996
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen Technology Co. Ltd, Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Donovan, Steven R., Gallant, John K., Wong, Anthony K., Gung, Shou
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US08/670,678
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.68, 395/200.36, 395/200.37, 455/461, 455/445, 455/414, 455/433, 370/259, 370/230
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

A system and method for providing enhanced short-message service options in PCS systems. The generic short-message service is split into unbundled short-message service applications (e.g., emergency messaging, voice mail alert, teleadmin, etc.). Each of these unbundled short-message services are recognized at short-message systems, home location registers, and subscriber terminals.

Claims

1. In a personal communication system, a short-message delivery method, comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving by a short message system a communication from a short-message entity, wherein said communication comprises a short message having a header and a message payload, said header including a subscriber identifier and said message payload comprising a short message service type and a message data,;

(2) sending, by said short-message system, a first query to a home location register of said subscriber to determine the services selected by said subscriber;

(3) determining by said home location register whether said subscriber is allowed to receive a short-message service;

(4) determining by said home location register whether said subscriber is allowed to receive a short-message service associated with said short-message service type as contained in said message payload,

(4) processing, by said home location register, said first query in accordance with procedures that are defined for said short-message service type if said subscriber is allowed to receive short messages associated with said short-message service type;

(5) sending, by said short-message system, a second query to said home location register to determine the location of said subscriber, and

(6) sending by said short-message system said short message queue said subscriber via a mobile service switching center.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said steps (4) and (5) comprise the step of retrieving by said home location register a subscriber profile record.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (5) comprises the step of determining by said home location register an alternative method of contacting said subscriber if said subscriber is not available.

4. A short-message delivery method, comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving by a short-message system a communication from a short-message entity, wherein said communication comprises a short message having a header and a message payload, said header including a subscriber identifier and said message payload comprising a short message service type and a message data;

(2) sending, by said short-message system, a first query to a home location register of said subscriber to determine the short message type services selected by said subscriber;

(3) determining by said home location register whether said subscriber is allowed to receive a short-message service associated with said unbundled short-message service type;

(4) sending, by said short-message system, a second query to said home location register to determine the location of said subscriber; and

(5) sending by said short-message system said short message to said subscriber via a mobile service switching center.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step (1) comprises the step of receiving said communication from said short-message entity via a X.25 data communications network.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said step (1) comprises the step of receiving said communication from said short-message entity via a data communications network that uses the TCP/IP protocol.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said step (3) comprises the step of retrieving by said home location register a subscriber profile record.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said step (5) comprises the step of sending said short message to said mobile service switching center via a common channel signaling network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step (5) further comprises the step of sending said short message to said mobile service switching center using a mobile application part protocol.

10. A personal communication services system, comprising:

a short-message system that received, from a short-message entity, a short message communication that comprises a short message having a header and a message payload, said header including a subscriber identifier and said message payload comprising a short message service type and a message data, said short-message system sending said short message to said destination subscriber via a mobile service switching center if said destination subscriber is allowed to receive short messages of said short-message service type as indicated in said short-message payload; and

a home location register that stores customer profiles for a plurality of subscribers, said customer profiles identifying services selected by an associated subscriber, said home location register determining, upon a request from said short message system, whether said subscriber is allowed to receive a short- message service associated with a short-message service type, said home location register further performing at least a portion of a procedure that is predefined for said short-message service type if said subscriber is allowed to receive short messages associated with said short-message service type.

11. A short message delivery system, comprising:

means for receiving a short message having a header and a message payload, said header including a subscriber identifier and said message payload comprising a short message service type and a message data;

means for sending a first query to a home location register of said subscriber to determine the services selected by said subscriber;

means for determining whether said subscriber is allowed to receive a short-message service associated with said short message service type;

means for processing said first query in accordance with procedures that are defined for said short message service type;

means for determining the location of said subscriber; and

means for sending said short message to said subscriber via a mobile service switching center.

13. The short message delivery system of claim 11, wherein said means for receiving further comprises a X.25 data communications network.

12. The short message delivery system of claimed 11, further comprises means for sending a second query to said home location register to determine location of said subscriber.