Methods, systems, and computer program products for using an E.164 number (ENUM) database for message service message routing resolution among 2G and subsequent generation network systems

• US 7,889,716 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Bantukul, Apirux, Marsico, Peter J., Tejani, Aziz A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISLAM, MOHAMMAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/291,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20070133574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/335, 370/342, 370/395, 370/401, 370/402, 370/524, 370/238, 370/392
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/106 across networks, e.g. mapping telephone numbers to data network addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for using an E.164 number (ENUM) database for message service message routing resolution among 2G and subsequent generation network systems are disclosed. According to one method, a message including message service message content is received. The message may include a 2G message recipient identifier. An ENUM database may be queried. A response from the ENUM database is received. Based on the response, unavailability of a subsequent generation network address for the recipient is determined. In response to the unavailability, the message service message content is attempted to be delivered to the recipient via a 2G network.

Claims

1. A method for messaging service message routing resolution among second generation (2G) and subsequent generation network systems, the method comprising:

receiving a message including message service message content and a 2G message recipient identifier;

querying an E.164 number (ENUM) database using the 2G message recipient identifier; and

receiving a response from the ENUM database, wherein the response includes an indicator indicating availability of a recipient at one or more network delivery addresses;

determining, based on the response, unavailability of the recipient at the subsequent generation network delivery address provisioned for the recipient in the ENUM database or unavailability of the recipient via any subsequent generation network delivery addresses provisioned for the recipient in the ENUM database; and

in response to determining the unavailability of a subsequent generation network delivery address provisioned for the recipient in the ENUM database or the unavailability of the recipient any subsequent generation network delivery addresses provisioned for the recipient in the ENUM database, attempting to deliver the message service content to the recipient via a 2G network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a message includes receiving a short message service (SMS) message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a message includes receiving a multimedia message service (MMS) message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the 2G message recipient identifier includes an identifier selected from a group including short code address, a mobile identification number, a mobile subscriber ISDN number, an E.164 number, a North American numbering plan (NANP) number, and an IP-based short message peer-to-peer (SMPP) address.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a response from the ENUM database includes receiving a response including a null value for a 3G network address.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a response from the ENUM database includes receiving a response including a 3G network address wherein the indicator indicates that the recipient is currently unavailable at the 3G network address.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein attempting to deliver the message service message content to the recipient via the 2G network includes translating a short message service center entity address in a mobile application part (MAP) portion of the message to a point code corresponding to a short message service center serving the recipient, formulating a message service message delivery message including the message service message content, and forwarding the message service message delivery message to the short message service center.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein attempting to deliver the message service message content to the recipient via the 2G network includes formulating an IS-41 message service message delivery message including the message service message content and forwarding the IS-41 message service message delivery message to an IS-41 network.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein attempting to deliver the message service message content to the recipient via the 2G network includes formulating a GSM message service message delivery message including the message service message content and forwarding the GSM message service message delivery message to the GSM network.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determining, based on the response, unavailability of a subsequent generation network delivery address for the recipient includes querying a presence database using a 3G address returned by the ENUM database.

11. A method for message service message routing resolution among second generation (2G) and subsequent generation network systems, the method comprising:

receiving a message including message service content and a 2G message recipient identifier;

determining whether subscriber preference information regarding delivery of the message via a 2G network or a subsequent generation network exists;

querying an ENUM database, wherein a response to the query includes an indicator indicating availability of a subscriber at one or more network delivery addresses, and determining that both 2G and subsequent generation network delivery addresses are available for the subscriber, determining that both 2G and subsequent generation network delivery addresses are available for the subscriber includes determining that the subsequent generation network address is provisioned in the ENUM database and that the recipient is currently available at the 2G and subsequent generation network delivery addresses; and

in response to determining that the subscriber preference information exists, delivering the message service content to a recipient via at least one of the 2G and the subsequent generation network in accordance with the subscriber preference information, wherein delivering the message service content in accordance with the subscriber preference information includes delivering the subscriber content via the 2G network if the subscriber preference information indicates that the subscriber prefers 2G delivery over 3G delivery.

12. A system for messaging service message routing resolution among second generation (2G) and subsequent generation network systems, the system comprising:

an E.164 Number (ENUM) database for storing information for translating 2G subscriber identifiers to 3G addresses, wherein the ENUM database is configured to respond to queries with a response including an indicator indicating availability of a subscriber at one or more network delivery addresses; and

a 2G and subsequent generation message service gateway operatively associated with the ENUM database for receiving message including message service content and a 2G recipient identifier, for querying the ENUM database using the 2G recipient identifier, for receiving a response from the ENUM database, for determining, based on the response, unavailability of a subsequent generation network delivery address for the recipient or unavailability of the recipient via any subsequent generation network delivery address provisioned for the recipient with the ENUM database, and for attempting, in response to determining the unavailability of a subsequent generation network delivery address for the recipient in the ENUM database or the unavailability of the recipient via any subsequent generation network delivery addresses provisioned for the recipient in the ENUM database, attempting to deliver delivering the message service content to the recipient via a 2G network.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the message comprises a short message service (SMS) message.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the message comprises a multimedia message service message.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the message recipient identifier includes an identifier selected from a group including a short code address, a mobile identification number, a mobile subscriber ISDN number, an E.164 number, a North American numbering plan (NANP) number, and an IP-based short message peer-to-peer (SMPP) address.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the 2G and subsequent generation message service gateway is adapted to attempt to deliver the message service content via an IS-41 network.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the 2G and subsequent generation message service gateway is adapted to attempt to deliver the message service content via a GSM network.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the ENUM database is adapted to query a presence database to determine availability of a 3G address corresponding to the recipient.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the 2G and subsequent message service message gateway is adapted to query a presence database to determine availability of a 3G address corresponding to the recipient.

20. A 2G and subsequent generation message service gateway comprising:

at least one communications module for receiving a message including message service message content and a message recipient identifier; and

a second 2G and subsequent generation message service routing resolution application for receiving the message, for querying an E.164 numbering (ENUM) database using the message recipient identifier, wherein the ENUM database replies to the query with a response including an indicator indicating availability of a recipient at one or more network delivery addresses, for receiving a response and determining, based on the response, unavailability of the recipient at a subsequent generation network delivery address provisioned in the ENUM database for the recipient or unavailability of the recipient via any subsequent generation delivery addresses provisioned for the recipient in the ENUM database, and for, in response to determining the unavailability of a subsequent generation network delivery addresses provisioned in the ENUM database for the recipient or the unavailability of the recipient via any subsequent generation delivery addresses provisioned for the recipient in the ENUM database, attempting to deliver the message service content to the recipient via a 2G network.

21. The second generation/subsequent generation message service gateway of claim 20 wherein the at least one communications module includes an SS7 communications module for sending and receiving SS7 messages including message service content.

22. The second generation/subsequent generation message service gateway of claim 20 wherein the at least one communications module includes an Internet protocol (IP) communications module for sending and receiving IP messages including message service content.

23. The second generation/subsequent generation message service gateway of claim 20 wherein the second generation/subsequent generation message service routing resolution application is adapted to attempt to deliver the message service content to the recipient via an IS-41 network.

24. The second generation/subsequent generation message service gateway of claim 20 wherein the second generation/subsequent generation message service routing resolution application is adapted to attempt to deliver the message service content to the recipient via a GSM network.

25. The second generation/subsequent generation message service gateway of claim 20 wherein the second generation/subsequent generation message service message routing resolution application is adapted to translate the recipient identifier into a 2G node address.

26. The second generation/subsequent generation message service gateway of claim 20 wherein the second generation/subsequent generation message service message routing resolution application is adapted to query a presence database to determine unavailability of a 3G address for the recipient.

27. The second generation/subsequent generation message service gateway of claim 20 wherein the second generation/subsequent generation message routing resolution application is adapted to access stored preference information for the recipient and to attempt to deliver the message service content to the recipient in accordance with the stored preference information.

28. A non-transitory computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:

receiving a message including message service message content and a 2G message recipient identifier;

querying an E.164 number (ENUM) database using the 2G message recipient identifier;

receiving a response from the ENUM database, wherein the response includes an indicator indicating availability of the recipient at one or more network delivery addresses;

determining, based on the response, unavailability of the recipient at a subsequent generation network delivery address provisioned for the recipient in the ENUM database or unavailability of the recipient via any subsequent generation network delivery addresses provisioned for the recipient in the ENUM database; and

in response to determining the unavailability of a subsequent generation network delivery address provisioned for the recipient in the ENUM database or the unavailability of the recipient any subsequent generation network delivery addresses provisioned for the recipient in the ENUM database, attempting to deliver the message service content to the recipient via a 2G network.

29. A non-transitory computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:

receiving a message including message service content and a 2G message recipient identifier;

determining whether subscriber preference information regarding delivery of the message via a 2G network or a subsequent generation network exists;

querying an ENUM database, wherein a response to the query includes an indicator indicating the availability of a subscriber one or more network delivery addresses, and determining that both 2G and subsequent generation network delivery addresses are available for the subscriber, determining that both 2G and subsequent generation network delivery addresses are available for the subscriber includes determining that the subsequent generation network address is provisioned in the ENUM database and that the recipient is currently available at the 2G and subsequent generation network delivery addresses; and

in response to determining that the subscriber preference information exists, delivering the message service content to a recipient via at least one of the 2G and the subsequent generation network in accordance with the subscriber preference information, wherein delivering the message service content in accordance with the subscriber preference information includes delivering the subscriber content via the 2G network if the subscriber preference information indicates that the subscriber prefers 2G delivery over 3G delivery.