GPRS network and method therefor
First Claim
1. A system for delivering SMS messages to a mobile terminal, comprising:
- an SMS message center, includes SMS SS7 circuitry for transmitting SMS messages over an SS7 network, and includes SMS IP circuitry for transmitting SMS messages over an IP network to a specified IP port of a specified gateway GPRS support node;
SMS processing circuitry coupled to the SMS SS7 circuitry and to the SMS IP circuitry for delivering messages thereto for transmission to a mobile terminal;
a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) having the specified IP port for receiving SMS messages transmitted in an IP protocol over the IP network from the SMS message center;
a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) for receiving SMS messages from the gateway GPRS support node, the messages being received in a GPRS tunneling protocol and in an IP protocol;
wherein the SMS processing circuitry is operable to determine whether to transmit the SMS message to the SGSN by way of the SS7 network or to the GGSN by way of the IP port and further wherein the GGSN is operable to receive SMS messages in a data packet format and to convert the messages to a legacy format for transmission according to a GPRS tunneling protocol; and
wireless transceiver circuitry for receiving the SMS messages from the SGSN, the wireless transceiver circuitry for delivering the SMS message to the mobile terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for delivering SMS messages to a mobile terminal includes an apparatus and method that deliver the SMS messages either using legacy SMS message formats or data packet formats. Additionally, a connection is created between a message center and a gateway GPRS support node wherein SMS messages may be transmitted to the gateway GPRS support node in a data packet format. To provide this capability, the gateway GPRS support node includes a unique port address for receiving SMS messages and circuitry for processing SMS messages received in a data packet format. A serving GPRS support node is formed to include circuitry for determining whether to transmit the SMS message to the mobile terminal in a data packet format or in a legacy SMS message format.
30 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for delivering SMS messages to a mobile terminal, comprising:
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an SMS message center, includes SMS SS7 circuitry for transmitting SMS messages over an SS7 network, and includes SMS IP circuitry for transmitting SMS messages over an IP network to a specified IP port of a specified gateway GPRS support node; SMS processing circuitry coupled to the SMS SS7 circuitry and to the SMS IP circuitry for delivering messages thereto for transmission to a mobile terminal; a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) having the specified IP port for receiving SMS messages transmitted in an IP protocol over the IP network from the SMS message center; a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) for receiving SMS messages from the gateway GPRS support node, the messages being received in a GPRS tunneling protocol and in an IP protocol; wherein the SMS processing circuitry is operable to determine whether to transmit the SMS message to the SGSN by way of the SS7 network or to the GGSN by way of the IP port and further wherein the GGSN is operable to receive SMS messages in a data packet format and to convert the messages to a legacy format for transmission according to a GPRS tunneling protocol; and wireless transceiver circuitry for receiving the SMS messages from the SGSN, the wireless transceiver circuitry for delivering the SMS message to the mobile terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method within a serving GPRS support node operable to deliver SMS messages to a mobile terminal, comprising:
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receiving an SMS message at one of two network ports in one of an IP protocol format and a legacy SMS message format; determining whether to convert the SMS message from the IP protocol format to the legacy SMS message format based upon processing capabilities of the mobile terminal; and forwarding the message to a wireless network for delivery to a mobile terminal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A serving GPRS support node operable to deliver SMS messages to a mobile terminal, comprising:
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circuitry for receiving SMS messages in a legacy format from an SS7 network;
circuitry for receiving SMS messages in a data packet format from a gateway GPRS support node by way of a data packet network; andcircuitry for determining whether to forward received SMS messages in one of the legacy format or the data packet format based upon the processing capabilities of the mobile terminal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification