System and method for blocking the use of a service in a telecommunication system

• US 7,450,957 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Teliasonera Finland Oyj (Telia Company AB)
• Inventors: Ala-Luukko, Sami
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Danh C
• Application Number:
  US11/182,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20060040684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/445, 455/417, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0245 Filtering by information in the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• 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 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A method and system for controlling the use of a short message service in a telecommunication system that includes a telecommunication network, a terminal device by which a subscriber is connected to the network, a mobile services switching center connected to the network, a gateway connected to the network, a short message service center connected to the gateway, and a database (DB) connected to or associated with the gateway. A short message sent by an originating subscriber is checked as to whether the short message is among those deemed non-allowed. Forwardable short messages are directed to the gateway, from which the database is queried to determine whether the originating subscriber is permitted the short message to the intended recipient or, alternatively, whether the message should been blocked based on predetermined criteria.

Claims

1. A method of routing a short message in a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving said short message at a first network node and screening said short message to determine if said short message is forwardable;

forwarding said short message to a second network node if said first network node determines that said short message is forwardable;

receiving said short message at said second network node and screening said short message based at least in part on a set of criteria; and

forwarding said short message if said set of criteria are satisfied by said short message.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

not forwarding said short message if said first network node determines that said short message is not forwardable or if said second network node determines that said set of criteria are not satisfied by said short message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said set of criteria relate to blocking definitions that indicate whether an originating subscriber is permitted to send said short message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said screening at said second network node includes checking said short message against a database.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said checking against a database includes checking if a subscriber is permitted to send said short message.

6. The method of claim 4, and further comprising:

blocking said short message if said subscriber is not permitted to send said short message.

7. The method of claim 6, and further comprising:

notifying a subscriber if said short message is blocked.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said subscriber comprises an originating subscriber.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said screening at said first network node includes determining whether an intended destination number or address of said short message is within a predetermined numerical address space or range.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said screening at said first network node includes checking whether said short message is directed to a destination number of a service for which an additional charge is applicable.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said screening at said first node includes checking the text content of said short message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said checking the text content includes searching the text of said short message for a word or phrase.

13. A system for routing a short message in a communication network, the system comprising:

a first network node configured to receive the short message from a terminal device and screen the short message to determine if the short message is forwardable;

if the first network node determines that the short message is forwardable, the first network node configured to forward the short message to a second network node;

the second network node configured to receive the short message from the first network node and screen the short message based at least in part on a set of criteria; and

if the set of criteria are satisfied by the short message, the second network node configured to forward said short message.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said set of criteria relate to blocking definitions that indicate whether an originating subscriber is permitted to send said short message.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said short message is not forwarded if said first network node determines that said short message is not forwardable or if said second network node determines that said set of criteria are not satisfied by said short message.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said screening at said first network node includes means for determining whether an intended destination number or address of said short message is within a predetermined numerical address space or range.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said screening at said first network node includes means for checking whether said short message is directed to a destination number of a service for which an additional charge is applicable.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said screening at said first node includes means for checking the text content of said short message.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said checking the text content includes means for searching the text of said short message for a word or phrase.