Mobile application part (MAP) interface for exchanging short messages with a SCP

• US 6,690,942 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2002
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Vikman, Tuija, Leinonen, Tuure
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gantt, Alan T.
• Application Number:
  US10/073,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/412.1, 455/414, 455/422, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 370/448, 370/410, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/229
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method for transmitting specific information between a controlling network element and a terminal device via a service center in a communication network, said method comprising the steps of transmitting user data and said specific information between said network element and said service center via a first communication connection by using an interworking functionality; and forwarding at least said specific information from said service center to said terminal device by using a gateway functionality. It is further possible to check whether a confirmation for outgoing of said specific information to said terminal device is required. If such a confirmation is required, routing information for said controlling network element is requested and received by said service center from a network element. The routing information is used for transmitting a status report from said service center to said controlling network element. Moreover, the present invention proposes a corresponding device and/or system.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting user specific data and network specific information between a service control point (1) of an intelligent network and a terminal device (2) in a mobile communication network via a short message service center (3, 7) of said mobile communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting (S1, S2, S3) said user specific data and network specific information between said service control point (1) and said short message service center (3, 7) via a first mobile application part protocol based communication connection by using a short message service interworking functionality, wherein the transmission of the user specific data and network specific information is initiated by the service control point (1); and

forwarding (S5) at least said network specific information from said short message service center (3, 7) to said terminal device (2) by using a short message service gateway functionality.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending an acknowledgment (S4) for a receipt of said user specific data and network specific information from said short message service center (3, 7) to said serving control point (1).

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

checking (S6) whether a confirming for outgoing of at least said network specific information to said terminal device (2) is required; and

if such a confirming is required,

requesting and receiving routing information (S7) for said service control point (1) by said short message service center (3, 7) from a network element (1, 5); and

using said received routing information for transmitting a status report (S8, S9) from said short message service center (3, 7) to said service control point (1) via a second mobile application part protocol based communication connection to notify said service control point (1) about a result of said forwarding of at least said network specific information to said terminal device (2).

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of

determining and processing (S21, S22) a type of said mobile application part protocol.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein

said network element (5) from which said routing information for said service control point (1) is requested by said short message service center (3, 7) is a home location register.

6. A method according to claim 3, wherein

said network member (1) from which said routing information for said service control point is requested by said short message service center is said service control point.

7. A method according to claim 3, wherein

said service control point (1) is able to cancel either said first or said second communication connection between said service control point (1) and said short message service center (3, 7).

8. A method according to claim 3, wherein

said short message service center (3, 7) is able to cancel either said first or said second communication connection between said service control point (1) and said short message service center (3, 7).

9. A device located in a service control point (1) of an intelligent network in a mobile communication network, said device comprising

transmitter means for transmitting user specific data and network specific information between said service control point (1) and a short message service center (3, 7) via a mobile application part protocol based communication connection by using a short message service interworking functionality, wherein the transmission of the user specific data and network specific information is initiated by the service control point (1);

and

receiver means for receiving acknowledgement of receipt.

10. A device located in a short message service center (3, 7) of a communication network, said device comprising

transmitter means for transmitting user specific data and network specific information between a service control point (1) of an intelligent network and said short message service center (3, 7) via a mobile application part protocol based communication connection by using a short message service interworking functionality, wherein the transmission of the user specific data and network specific information is initiated by the service control point (1);

and

means adapted to send an acknowledgment for a receipt of said user specific data and network specific information from said short message service center (3, 7) to said service control point (1).

11. A device according to claim 10, said device further comprising:

means adapted to forward at least said network specific information from said short message service center (3, 7) to a terminal device (2) by using a short message service gateway functionality.

12. A device according to claim 11, further comprising:

checking means for checking whether a confirming for outgoing of at least said least network specific information to said terminal device (2) is required; and

if such a confirming is required,

means adapted to request and receive routing information for said service control point (1) from a network element (1, 5); and

means adapted to use said received routing information for transmitting a status report from said short message service center (3, 7) to said serving control point (1) to notify about a result of said forwarding of at least said network specific information to said terminal device (2).

13. A device according to claim 10, further comprising

means for determining and processing the type of said mobile application part protocol.

14. A system comprising a first device located in a service control point (1) of an intelligent network in a mobile communication network, said first device comprising transmitter means for transmitting user specific data and network specific information from said service control point (1) to short message service center (3, 7) via a mobile application part protocol based communication connection by using a short message service interworking functionality, wherein the transmission of the user specific data and network specific information is initiated by the service control point (1), and

a second device located in a short message service center (3, 7) of a mobile communication network, said second device comprising transceiver means for transmitting user specific data and network specific information between said service control point (1) and a short message service center (3, 7) via a mobile application part protocol based communication connection by using a short message service interworking functionality.

15. A method for transmitting user specific data and network specific information between a service control point (1) of an intelligent network and a terminal device (2) in a mobile communication network via a short message service center (3, 7) of said mobile communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting (S1, S2, S3) said user specific data and network specific information between said service control point (1) and said short message service center (3, 7) via a first mobile application part protocol based communication connection by using a short message service interworking functionality;

forwarding (S5) at least said network specific information from said short message service center (3, 7) to said terminal device (2) by using a short message service gateway functionality;

checking (S6) whether a confirming for outgoing of at least said network specific information to said terminal device (2) is required; and

if such a confirming is required,

requesting and receiving routing information (S7) for said service control point (1) by said short message service center (3, 7) from a network element (1, 5); and

using said received routing information for transmitting a status report (SB, S9) from said short message service center (3, 7) to said service control point (1) via a second mobile application part protocol based communication connection to notify said service control point (1) about a result of said forwarding of at least said network specific information to said terminal device (2).

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein

said network element (5) from which said routing information for said service control point (1) is requested by said short message service center (3, 7) is a home location register.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein

said network member (1) from which said routing information for said service control point is requested by said short message service center is said service control point.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein said service control point (1) is able to cancel either said first or said second communication connection between said service control point (1) and said short message service center (3, 7).

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein

said short message service center (3, 7) is able to cancel either said first or said second communication connection between said service control point (1) and said short message service center (3, 7).

20. A method for transmitting user specific data and network specific information between a service control point (1) of an intelligent network and a terminal device (2) in a mobile communication network via a short message service center (3, 7) of said mobile communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting (S1, S2, S3) said user specific data and network specific information between said service control point (1) and said short message service center (3, 7) via a first mobile application part protocol based communication connection by using a short message service interworking functionality;

forwarding (S5) at least said network specific information from said short message service center (3, 7) to said terminal device (2) by using a short message service gateway functionality; and

determining and processing (S21, S22) a type of said mobile application part protocol.

21. A device located in a short message service center (3, 7) of a communication network, said device comprising:

transmitter means for transmitting user specific data and network specific information between a service control point (1) of an intelligent network and said short message service center (3, 7) via a mobile application part protocol based communication connection by using a short message service interworking functionality;

means adapted to send an acknowledgment for a receipt of said user specific data and network specific information from said short message service center (3, 7) to said service control point (1);

checking means for checking whether a confirming for outgoing of at least said least network specific information to said terminal device (2) is required; and

if such a confirming is required, means adapted to request and receive routing information for said service control point (1) from a network element (1, 5); and

means adapted to use said received routing information for transmitting a status report from said short message service center (3, 7) to said serving control point (1) to notify about a result of said forwarding of at least said network specific information to said terminal device (2).