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

• US 8,078,200 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2006
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Data Advisors LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ala-Luukko, Sami
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US11/511,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20070026879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,933 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/445, 455/417, 455/418, 713/201
• 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 comprising:

receiving a short message service (SMS) message at a first node;

analyzing, at the first node, the SMS message to determine if a predetermined criterion is present in the SMS message;

if the predetermined criterion is not present, forwarding the SMS message to a second node different from the first node; and

if the predetermined criterion is present, blocking transmission of the SMS message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the SMS message is addressed to a particular numerical space.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the SMS message is addressed to a particular destination address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criterion comprises a predetermined text element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined text element is associated with a service.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the service is associated with a monetary charge.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node is a short message service center (SMSC).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second node is a gateway.

9. A system comprising:

a first node configured to;

receive a short message service (SMS) message;

analyze the SMS message to determine if a predetermined criterion is present in the SMS message;

if the predetermined criterion is not present, forward the SMS message to a second node different from the first node; and

if the predetermined criterion is present, block transmission of the SMS message.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first node is further configured to determine if the SMS message is addressed to a particular numerical space.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first node is further configured to determine if the SMS message is addressed to a particular destination address.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the first node is a short message service center (SMSC).

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the second node is a gateway.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined text element is associated with a service.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the service is associated with a monetary charge.

16. A method comprising:

receiving a short message service (SMS) message at a second node from a first node, wherein the SMS message has been screened at the first node prior to receipt at the second node;

determining if the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded; and

forwarding the SMS message to a third node different from the second node if the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining if the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded comprises accessing a database to determine blocking information.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining if the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded comprises analyzing the text within the SMS message.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining if the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded comprises determining if an originating subscriber associated with the SMS message is entitled to send the SMS message.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining if the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded comprises determining if monetary charges are associated with a destination address of the SMS message.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the second node is a gateway.