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

• US 9,369,590 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ala-Luukko, Sami
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US14/445,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20140335821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/445, 455/466, 455/417
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 message comprising:

receiving a short message at a first node;

receiving an address of a second node, wherein the address of the second node is received based at least on comparing the short message to a first predetermined criterion;

comparing the short message to a checking condition based at least on monetary charges associated with a destination address of the short message; and

forwarding the short message to the second node for comparison with a second predetermined criterion based on comparing the short message to the first predetermined criterion and the address of the second node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein provision of the short message from the second node to a third node is blocked based on determining that a blocking condition is satisfied by comparing the short message to the second predetermined criterion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined criterion comprises an indication of whether a blocking service has been activated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the checking condition further comprises searching for a predetermined word in a message text of the short message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined criterion is based at least in part on an origination address of the short message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined criterion is based on a determination that the originating subscriber associated with the SMS message is entitled to send the SMS message.

7. A system comprising:

a first node configured to receive a short message and to receive an address of a second node, wherein the address of the second node is based at least on comparing the short message to a first predetermined criterion;

a processor configured to compare the short message to a checking condition based at least on monetary charges associated with a destination address of the short message; and

a communication interface configured to forward the short message to the second node for comparison with a second predetermined criterion based on comparing the short message to the first predetermined criterion and the address of the second node.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein provision of the short message from the second node to a third node is blocked based on determining that a blocking condition is satisfied by comparing the short message to the second predetermined criterion.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first predetermined criterion comprises an indication of whether a blocking service has been activated.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the checking condition further comprises searching for a predetermined word in a message text of the short message.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the second predetermined criterion is based at least in part on an origination address of the short message.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the first predetermined criterion is based on a determination that the originating subscriber associated with the SMS message is entitled to send the SMS message.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the second node is a gateway.