Routing short messages

• US 6,292,669 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Networks (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Gustafsson, Patrik, Pihko, Pete, Meuronen, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woldetatios, Yemane
• Application Number:
  US09/454,946
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/466, 455/433, 455/412, 455/424, 455/428, 455/459, 455/450, 455/414, 455/445
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A method and an equipment implementing the method in a mobile communication system in which short messages may be sent amid actual signalling, whereby one of more short message service centers providing short message services are linked to the mobile communication system. An identifier supplied by the subscriber and associated with the desired service is included in a mobile originated short message. On the basis of this identifier a database search is performed in a database connected with the mobile communication system, the database comprising identifiers associated with short message services available to subscribers and related routing information. The message is sent to the routing address obtained on the basis of the database search. A short message submitted by a subscriber may thus be routed to the desired short message service center without the subscriber having to directly attend to the routing.

Claims

1. A method for routing a short message to a desired short message service centre in a mobile communication system in which short messages may be sent amid actual signalling and where an address of a short message service centre is included in mobile originated short messages, whereby two or more short message service centres (SMSC1, SMSC2, SMSC3, SMSC4) providing short message services are linked to the mobile communication system,

characterized in that the method comprises steps wherein:

a database (DB) for storing identifiers regarding short message services available to subscribers and for each identifier routing information to a related short message service centre is connected to the mobile communication system,

an identifier associated with the desired short message service and supplied by the subscriber is included in a mobile (MS) originated short message,

said identifier is picked from the short message as a response to the received short message,

a database search is performed in said database (DB) connected with the mobile communication system by using at least said identifier picked from the short message as a search index, and

the message is sent to an address of the short message service centre indicated by routing information obtained on the basis of the database search.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said database (DB) is connected to at least one short message gateway centre (SMS-GMSC1, SMS-GMSC2) of the mobile communication system.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said database (DB) is connected to at least one short message service centre (SMSC1, SMSC2, SMSC3, SMSC4) linked to the mobile communication system.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said database (DB) is connected to at least one centre (MSC) of the mobile communication system.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said identifier comprises at least a prefix associated with the destination address of the short message.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said identifier comprises at least the value of a PID parameter supplied by the subscriber.

7. A mobile switching centre in a mobile communication system in which short messages may be sent amid actual signalling and where an address of a short message service centre is included in mobile originated short messages, whereby two or more short message service centres (SMSC1, SMSC2, SMSC3, SMSC4) providing short message services are linked to the mobile communication system,

characterized in that

the mobile switching centre comprises a database (DB) for storing identifiers regarding short message services available to subscribers and for each identifier routing information to a related short message service centre,

the mobile switching centre is arranged, as a response to the received short message, to pick from the short message an identifier supplied by the subscriber and associated with the desired short message service,

the mobile switching centre is arranged to perform a database search in said database using at least said identifier as a search index,

the mobile switching centre is arranged to send the short message to the address of the short message service centre indicated by the routing information obtained on the basis of the database search.

8. A mobile switching centre as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said mobile switching centre is a short message gateway centre (SMS-GMSC1, SMS-GMSC2).

9. A mobile switching centre as claimed in claim 7 characterized in that the identifier comprises at least a prefix associated with the destination address of the short message.

10. A mobile switching centre as claimed in claim 7 characterized in that the identifier comprises at least the value of a PID parameter supplied by the subscriber.

11. A short message service centre (SMSC) linked to a mobile communication system, the short message service centre being at least to one subscriber a primary short message service centre whereto the short messages send by said subscriber are routed on the basis of an address of the primary short message included in mobile originated short messages and in which communication system short messages may be sent amid actual signalling, whereby one or more short message service centres (SMSC1, SMSC2, SMSC3, SMSC4) providing short message services and being secondary short message service centres to said at least one subscriber are linked to the mobile communication system,

characterized in that

the short message service centre comprises a database (DB) for storing identifiers regarding short message services available to subscribers and for each identifier routing information to a related short message service,

the short message service centre is arranged, as a response to the received short message, to pick from the short message an identifier supplied by the subscriber and associated with the desired short message service,

the short message service centre is arranged to perform a data-base search in said database using at least said identifier as a search index,

the short message service centre is arranged to send the short message to the address of the short message service centre indicated by the routing information obtained on the basis of the database search when the address is an address of a secondary short message service centre.

12. A short message service centre as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said identifier comprises at least a prefix associated with the destination address of the short message.

13. A short message service centre as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said identifier comprises at least the value of a PID parameter supplied by the subscriber.

14. A mobile communication system in which short messages may be sent amid actual signalling and where an address of a short message service centre is included in mobile originated short messages, whereby two or more short message service centres (SMSC1, SMSC2, SMSC3, SMSC4) providing short message services are linked to the mobile communication system, which comprises a mobile switching centre (SMS-GMSC, MSC),

characterized in that

mobile switching centre comprises a database (DB) for storing identifiers regarding short message services available to subscribers and for each identifier routing information to a related short message service centre,

mobile switching centre is arranged, as a response to the received short message, to pick from the short message an identifier supplied by the subscriber and associated with the desired short message service,

mobile switching centre is arranged to perform a database search in said database using at least said identifier as a search index,

mobile switching centre is arranged to transmit the short message to the address of the short message centre indicated by the routing information obtained on the basis of the database search.

15. A mobile communication system in which short messages may be sent amid actual signalling and where an address of a short message service centre is included in mobile originated short messages, whereby two or more short message service centres (SMSCI, SMSC2, SMSC3, SMSC4) providing short message services are linked to the mobile communication system,

characterized in that

at least one short message service centre comprises a database (DB) for storing identifiers regarding short message services available to subscribers and for each identifier routing information to a related short message service centre,

said short message service centre comprising said database is arranged, as a response to the received short message, to pick from the short message an identifier supplied by the subscriber and associated with the desired short message service,

said short message service centre comprising said database is arranged to perform a database search in said database using at least said identifier as a search index, and

said short message service centre comprising said database is arranged to transmit the short message to the address indicated by the routing information obtained on the basis of the database search if the address is not it'"'"'s own address.