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

• US 9,730,035 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2016
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• 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:
  US15/177,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20160286369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 455466, 455445, 455417, 455418
• 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 system comprising:

a second node configured to;

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

determine that the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded; and

forward the SMS message to a third node different from the second node based on the determination that the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded,

wherein the first node is further configured to screen the SMS message based on determining that monetary charges are associated with a destination address of the SMS message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second node is configured to determine if the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded by accessing a database to determine blocking information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first node is configured to determine if the SMS message is screened by analyzing message text within the SMS message.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second node is configured to determine if the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded by determining if the originating subscriber associated with the SMS message is entitled to send the SMS message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first node is further configured to screen the SMS message based on a predetermined word in a message text of the SMS short message.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second node is a gateway.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second node is further configured to block the SMS message from being forwarding to the third node after determining that a blocking condition is satisfied by comparing the short message to a predetermined criterion.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined criterion comprises an origination address of the SMS message.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein determining that the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded to the third node comprises checking on monetary charges associated with the second node.

10. A method comprising:

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

determine, at the second node, that the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded; and

forward the SMS message from the second node to a third node different from the second node based on the determination that the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded,

wherein the first node is further configured to screen the SMS message based on determining that monetary charges are associated with a destination address of the SMS message.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second node is configured to determine if the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded by accessing a database to determine blocking information.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first node is configured to determine if the SMS message is screened by analyzing message text within the SMS message.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the second node is configured to determine if the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded by determining if the originating subscriber associated with the SMS message is entitled to send the SMS message.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first node is further configured to screen the SMS message based on a predetermined word in a message text of the SMS short message.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

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

instructions for determining, at the second node, that the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded; and

instructions for forwarding the SMS message from the second node to a third node different from the second node based on the determination that the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded, wherein the first node is further configured to screen the SMS message based on determining that monetary charges are associated with a destination address of the SMS message.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first node is configured to determine if the SMS message is screened by analyzing message text within the SMS message.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the second node is configured to determine if the SMS message is allowed to be forwarded by determining if the originating subscriber associated with the SMS message is entitled to send the SMS message.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first node is further configured to screen the SMS message based on determining that monetary charges are associated with a destination address of the SMS message.