Short message service center

• US 6,263,212 B1
• Filed: 02/17/1998
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel USA Sourcing L.P. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Stashluk, Jr., Edward J., Ross, Frederick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/024,360
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/414, 455/422, 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/445, 455/560, 455/412, 455/453, 395/200.33, 370/259, 370/312, 370/410, 370/522, 370/349, 370/428, 370/466, 399/200.36, 709/103, 709/105
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A short message service center allowing processing characteristics to be modified for service users within a given type so that the storage and delivery of short messages to one service user of a given type may be different for another service user within the same given type is provided. The short message service center alleviates some of the potential “jams” associated with the processing of large distribution lists and closed user groups. The short message service center further allows for distributed administration. Additionally, the short message service center receives a short message in one standard format and delivers the short message in another standard format. The short message service center also utilizes both a table routing method and a global title translation method for routing messages to a recipient. The short message service center also allows a complete transmission of short messages between service entities having differing short message length definitions. The short message service center also allows for dynamic system re-configuration.

Claims

1. A method for processing a short message by a short message service center comprising the steps of:

defining a first market segment of service users based on a segmentation criterion;

assigning a plurality of service users to the first market segment;

defining at least one storage variable and at least one delivery variable for the first market segment;

receiving from a message originator a short message for at least one of the service users assigned to the first market segment;

storing the short message as a function of the storage variable; and

delivering the short message to the at least one service user a function of the delivery variable.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of service users includes a plurality of recipients on a distribution list.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

setting a first predetermined maximum number indicating a maximum number of recipients on the distribution list that may be processed in a single block; and

determining a first number of recipients on the distribution list;

wherein if the first number of recipients exceeds the first predetermined maximum number, performing the steps of;

separating the plurality of recipients on the distribution list into a plurality of blocks of recipients, each one of the plurality of blocks of recipients being a subset of the plurality of recipients, wherein each one of the plurality of blocks of recipients contains a maximum number of recipients corresponding to the first predetermined maximum number,

transmitting the short message to a first block of the plurality of blocks of recipients,

monitoring a delivery status of the first block, and

transmitting a second block of the plurality of blocks of recipients after the delivery status satisfies a predetermined criteria.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

setting a first predetermined maximum number indicating a maximum number of recipients on the distribution list that may be processed in a single block;

determining a first number of recipients on the distribution list; and

creating a plurality of copies of the short message corresponding in number to the plurality of recipients,

wherein if the first number exceeds the first predetermined maximum number, performing the steps of;

grouping the plurality of copies of the short message into a plurality of blocks, each one of the plurality of blocks containing a maximum number of copies corresponding to the first predetermined maximum number,

transmitting a first block of the plurality of blocks,

monitoring a delivery status of the first block, and

transmitting a second block of the plurality of blocks after the delivery status satisfies a predetermined criteria.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of defining an access scheme for the first market segment, the access scheme determining whether an administrator is permitted to perform a plurality of administrative functions affecting a message processing characteristic for the at least one service user assigned to the first market segment.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of administrative functions includes defining at least one recipient to whom the at least one service user is permitted to send messages and at least one sender from whom the at least one service user is permitted to receive messages.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the defining of the at least one recipient to whom the at least one service user is permitted to send messages and the at least one sender from whom the at least one service user is permitted to receive messages is performed by assigning the at least one service user to a closed user group.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processing of the short message performs one of a plurality of teleservices, the method further comprising the steps of:

setting up a priority table indicative of a prioritization scheme for the plurality of teleservices; and

assigning a teleservice type to the short message indicating which one of the plurality of teleservices is being performed by the short message;

wherein the processing of the short message is prioritized in relation to a processing of other short messages as a function of the priority table.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of assigning the short message to at least one second market segment, wherein the processing of the short message is further performed as a function of the at least one second market segment.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of assigning the short message to the at least one second market segment includes the steps of:

initially assigning the short message to a third market segment corresponding to the message originator upon receiving the short message;

determining the first market segment corresponding to the at least one service user receiving the short message; and

assigning the short message to the first market segment corresponding to the at least one service user.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processing of the short message is performed by one of a plurality of parallel processes, and wherein the one of the plurality of parallel processes is selected as a function of at least one operating characteristic of the one of the plurality of parallel processes.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one operating characteristic includes at least one of a queue size, latency and a growth rate.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining a first message size of the short message; and

determining a second message size corresponding to a maximum capacity of a service entity servicing the at least one service user,

wherein if the first message size is larger than the second message size, performing the steps of;

segmenting the short message into a plurality of message segments,

transmitting a first message segment of the plurality of message segments,

determining a transfer status of the first message segment,

re-transmitting the first message segment if the transfer status indicates an unsuccessful transfer, and

transmitting a second message segment if the transfer status indicates a successful transfer.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

setting a configuration flag indicator to a predetermined value if a change is made to one of a plurality of temporary system parameters, each one of the plurality of temporary system parameters corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of operating system parameters of the short message service center;

checking the configuration flag indicator after receiving the short message; and

replacing each one of the plurality of operating system parameters with the corresponding one of the plurality of temporary system parameters if the configuration flag indicator has been set to the predetermined value.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the short message includes an identifier variable indicating an address of the at least one service user, the method further comprising the step of:

setting a routing method variable indicating a routing method to be used by the short message service center,

wherein if the routing method variable indicates a table routing method is to be used, performing the steps of;

accessing an internal lookup table, the internal lookup table including a point code and a subsystem number of a location register servicing the at least one service user,

transmitting the short message and the identifier variable to the location register using the point code and subsystem number, and

wherein if the routing method variable indicates a global title translation method is to be used, performing the steps of;

transmitting the short message, the identifier variable, and a predetermined subsystem number to a signal transfer point.

16. A method for processing a short message for delivery to at least one service user comprising the steps of:

receiving a short message having one of a first message format and a second message format;

converting the short message into a canonical message format, the canonical message format including a superset of the first message format and the second message format;

converting the short message into another one of the first message format and the second message format corresponding to a message format recognized by a service entity servicing the at least one service user; and

delivering the converted short message to the at least one service user in the another one of the first message format and the second message format.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first message format includes one of an ANSI-41 format and a GSM 03.40 format and the second message format includes the other one of the ANSI-41 format and the GSM 03.40 format.

18. A method for delivering a short message to a distribution list having a plurality of recipients, the method comprising the steps of:

setting a first predetermined maximum number of short messages;

determining a first number of recipients on the distribution list;

creating a plurality of copies of the short message corresponding in number to the plurality of recipients; and

delivering each one of the plurality of copies of the short message to a respective one of the plurality of recipients,

wherein if the first number exceeds the first predetermined maximum number, performing the steps of;

grouping the plurality of copies of the short message into a plurality of blocks, each one of the plurality of blocks containing a maximum number of copies corresponding to the first predetermined maximum number,

transmitting a first block of the plurality of blocks,

monitoring a delivery status of the first block, and

transmitting a second block of the plurality of blocks after the delivery status satisfies a predetermined criteria.

19. A method of providing a plurality of teleservices, the teleservices being provided by processing a plurality of short messages, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a priority table indicative of a prioritization scheme for the plurality of teleservices; and

assigning a teleservice type to each one of the plurality of short messages, the teleservice type indicating which one of the plurality of teleservices is being performed by each one of the plurality of short messages,

wherein the processing of each one of the plurality of short messages is prioritized in relation to a processing of another one of the plurality of short messages as a function of the priority table.

20. A method of delivering a short message to at least one service user being serviced by a service entity, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a first message size of the short message;

determining a second message size corresponding to a maximum capacity of the service entity servicing the at least one service user; and

delivering the short message to the at least one service user, wherein if the first message size is larger than the second message size, performing the steps of;

segmenting the short message into a plurality of message segments,

transmitting a first message segment of the plurality of message segments,

determining a transfer status of the first message segment,

re-transmitting the first message segment if the transfer status indicates an unsuccessful transfer, and

transmitting a second message segment if the transfer status indicates a successful transfer.

21. A method of delivering a short message to at least one service user, the short message including an identifier variable indicating an address of the at least one service user, the method comprising the steps of:

setting a routing method variable indicating a routing method to be used by the short message service center; and

delivering the short message to the at least one service user,

wherein the step of delivering the short message includes the following sub-steps if the routing method variable indicates a table routing method is to be used;

accessing an internal lookup table, the internal lookup table including a point code and a subsystem number of a location register servicing the at least one service user,

transmitting the short message and the identifier variable to the location register using the point code and subsystem number, and

wherein if the routing method variable indicates a global title translation method is to be used the step of delivering the short message, performing the step of;

transmitting the short message, the identifier variable, and a predetermined subsystem number to a signal transfer point.

22. A system for processing at least one short message comprising:

a plurality of databases;

a processor accessing the plurality of databases; and

a plurality of interfaces connecting the processor to at least one of an administrator, a local area network, a wide area network and a wireless telecommunications network, at least one of the plurality of interfaces receiving the at least one short message,

wherein the plurality of databases includes a plurality of system configuration databases, the plurality of system configuration databases including;

a first database storing a plurality of subscriber attributes for at least one service user, the plurality of subscriber attributes including a first market segment identifier associating the at least one service user with a first market segment,

a second database storing a plurality of operating parameters for the first market segment, the plurality of operating parameters indicative of a plurality of storage characteristics and a plurality of delivery characteristics for the at least one market segment,

wherein the plurality of databases further includes a short message database storing the at least one short message and a corresponding plurality of message characteristics, and

wherein the processor stores and delivers the at least one short message as a function of the plurality of operating parameters for the first market segment associated with the at least one service user.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of interfaces includes at least one of an administrative interface, a multi-protocol interface and an SS7 IPC interface.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the multi-protocol interface includes support for a Short Messaging Point-to-Point Protocol, Telocator Alphanumeric Protocol, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, and a Telocator Data Protocol.

25. The system according to 22, wherein the plurality of interfaces includes at least one of an Ethernet interface, a V.35 interface and an RS-232 interface.

26. The system according to 22, wherein the plurality of operating parameters for the first market segment further includes at least one parameter indicative of an access scheme for access to a plurality of administrative functions affecting a message processing characteristic for the at least one service user associated with the first market segment.

27. The system according to 22, wherein the processing of the at least one short message performs one of a plurality of teleservices, wherein the plurality of system configuration databases includes a third database storing a prioritization scheme for the plurality of teleservices, wherein the plurality of message characteristics for the at least one short message includes a teleservice type field indicating which one of the plurality of teleservices is being performed by the processing of the at least one short message, and wherein the processing of the least one short message is further performed as a function of the teleservice type field.

28. The system according to claim 22, wherein the corresponding plurality of message characteristics for the at least one short message includes a second market segment identifier associating the at least one short message to a short message market segment.

29. The system according to claim 22, wherein the processor processes the at least one short message using a plurality of parallel processes, and wherein the plurality of system configuration databases further includes at least one process characteristics database storing at least one operating characteristic for each one of the plurality of parallel processes.

30. The system according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of system configuration databases further includes a service entity attributes table indicative of at least a message size corresponding to a maximum capacity of a first service entity servicing the at least one service user.

31. The system according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of system configuration databases further includes a fourth database storing a plurality of temporary system configuration parameters and a fifth database storing a plurality of operating system configuration parameters and a configuration flag indicator that is set to a predetermined value if a change is made to one of the plurality of temporary system configuration parameters via one of the plurality of interfaces.

32. The system according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of system configuration databases includes a routing method variable indicating a routing method to be used by the system and a sixth database storing at least one point code and at least one subsystem number corresponding to an address of a service entity servicing the at least one service user and a seventh database storing at least one predetermined subsystem number corresponding to a first service entity servicing the at least one service user.

33. A system for processing at least one short message received in one of a first format and a second format, the system comprising:

a plurality of databases;

a processor accessing the plurality of databases; and

a plurality of interfaces connecting the processor to at least one of an administrator, a local area network, a wide area network and a wireless telecommunications network,

wherein the plurality of databases includes a first short message database storing the at least one short message in the one of the first format and the second format, wherein the plurality of databases includes a second short message database storing the at least one short message in a canonical format, the canonical format including a superset of the first format and the second format, and wherein the plurality of databases includes a third short message database storing the at least one short message in another one of the first format and the second format.

34. A system for processing at least one short message comprising:

a plurality of databases including a first database storing a prioritization scheme for a plurality of teleservices and a short message database storing the at least one short message and a corresponding plurality of message characteristics;

a processor accessing the plurality of databases and processing the at least one short message; and

a plurality of interfaces connecting the processor to at least one of an administrator, a local area network, a wide area network and a wireless telecommunications network, at least one of the plurality of interfaces receiving the at least one short message,

wherein the processing of the at least one short message performs one of the plurality of teleservices, wherein the plurality of message characteristics for the at least one short message includes a teleservice type field indicating which one of the plurality of teleservices is being performed by the processing of the at least one short message, and wherein the processing of the least one short message is further performed as a function of the teleservice type field.

35. A system for processing at least one short message comprising:

a plurality of databases;

a processor accessing the plurality of databases and processing the at least one short message; and

a plurality of interfaces connecting the processor to at least one of an administrator, a local area network, a wide area network and a wireless telecommunications network, at least one of the plurality of interfaces receiving the at least one short message,

wherein the processor processes the at least one short message using a plurality of parallel processes, and wherein the plurality of databases includes at least one process characteristics database storing at least one operating characteristic for each one of the plurality of parallel processes.

36. A system for processing at least one short message comprising:

a plurality of databases;

a processor accessing the plurality of databases and processing the at least one short message; and

a plurality of interfaces connecting the processor to at least one of an administrator, a local area network, a wide area network and a wireless telecommunications network, at least one of the plurality of interfaces receiving the at least one short message,

wherein the plurality of databases includes a service entity attributes table indicative of at least a message size corresponding to a maximum capacity of a first service entity servicing the at least one service user.