Short message gateway with interworking for non-compatible networks

• US 6,947,743 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Markport Limited (Mavenir Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Markport Limited (Mavenir Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: McGrath, Martin, Corrigan, Louis, Aitken, David James
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US10/096,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/466, 455/560
• US Class Current: 455/432.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A short message gateway comprises a gateway function (SMGF) and programs in an HLR or a home network (IMT-2000). It does not have any physical impact on a foreign (PDC) network, and it converts short messages communicated between the home and foreign networks. The gateway function (SMGF) primarily inter-operates with an HLR and an SMSC of the home network, the GMSC providing the link to the foreign network. The gateway allows communication in a wide variety of scenarios for communication with subscribers in the home and foreign networks and roaming subscribers from one to the other.

Claims

1. A short message gateway comprising a gateway function (SMGF) comprising means for inter-working with entities of non-compatible cellular networks and for performing short message format conversion between the networks,

wherein the gateway function comprises means for residing in a home network and for performing inter-working functions between the home network and a foreign network without modification of the foreign network,

wherein the gateway function comprises means for communicating with the foreign network via gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC) in the home network, and

wherein the gateway further comprises means in a Home Location Register (HLR) of the home network for returning an address for the gateway function as a serving VMSC or as a home SMSC, depending on the nature of the signals.

2. The short message gateway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gateway function comprises means for inter-working between a plurality of similar networks on one side and a different, non-compatible, network on the other side.

3. The short message gateway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the HLR comprises means for providing to the gateway function a MSRN of a roaming subscriber in a foreign network.

4. The short message gateway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the HLR comprises means for providing the gateway function with routing data for a call to a foreign subscriber.

5. The short message gateway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gateway function further comprises means for capturing short message statistical data at configurable intervals.

6. The short message gateway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gateway function comprises means for maintaining a table of corresponding message classes and tele-services, and for using said table for message class and tele-services conversion.

7. The short message gateway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gateway function comprises a programmable mapping function between data coding schemes, said mapping function being controlled by instructions in the form of operator commands and a configuration file.

8. The short message gateway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gateway function comprises means for converting a release message into independent messages.

9. The short message gateway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gateway function comprises means for segmentation of messages if a network has a shorter maximum message length than another network.

10. The short message gateway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gateway function comprises means for maintaining a network transaction log of diagnostic data.

11. A short message gateway comprising a gateway function (SMGF) comprising means for inter-working with entities of non-compatible cellular networks and for performing short message format conversion between the networks,

wherein the gateway function comprises means for inter-working between a plurality of similar networks on one side and a different, non-compatible, network on the other side,

wherein the gateway function comprises means for residing in a home network and for performing inter-working functions between the home network and a foreign network without modification of the foreign network,

wherein the gateway function comprises means for communicating with the foreign network via a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC) in the home network,

wherein the gateway further comprises means in a Home Location Register (HLR) of the home network for returning an address for the gateway function as a serving VMSC or as a home SMSC depending on the nature of the signals,

wherein the HLR comprises means for providing to the gateway function a MSRN of a roaming subscriber in a foreign network,

wherein the HLR comprises means for providing the gateway function with routing data for a call to a foreign subscriber, and

wherein the gateway function comprises means for converting a release message into independent messages.