Distributed message transmission system and method

• US 20050078660A1
• Filed: 08/12/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Empower Interactive Group Ltd. (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Empower Interactive Group Ltd. (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wood, Ian
• Application Number:
  US10/918,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078660A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/30 the meter or calculation of charges not being controlled from an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/62 based on trigger specification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/026 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/92 : Autonomous calculations of charges in terminal, i.e. meter not controlled from exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/088 : among core entities
• 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 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 : Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A system and method for routing at least one message to a component connected to a telecommunications network. The message is received from the telecommunications network over a telecommunications communication protocol link. Interaction with the message occurs at the MAP layer, or at another equivalent high level protocol layer, to determine at least one piece of information, including information indicative of the destination, from the message A route is then selected to deliver the message to its destination, which is connected to the telecommunications network. The route being selected from at least a first route via the telecommunications network and a second route via a network separate to the telecommunications network and the route further being selected based on the information determined from the message.

Claims

1. A method of routing at least one message to a destination at a component connected to a telecommunications network comprising:

receiving the message from the telecommunications network over a telecommunications communication protocol link;

interacting with the message at the MAP layer to determine at least one piece of information including information indicative of the destination, from the message;

selecting a route for the destination at a component connected to the telecommunications network from at least a first route via the telecommunications network and a second route via a network separate to the telecommunications network based on the information determined;

routing at least a portion of the message via the selected route.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one piece of information including information indicative of the destination determined from the message is used to determine the message type, wherein the message type may be one of:

mobile originated, mobile terminated, application originated or application terminated.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising determining that the message is an application terminated message destined for an application connected to a remote node.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the network separate to the telecommunications network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the message from the telecommunications network further comprises terminating the message.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein, the message is a mobile originated message, and the method further comprises:

parsing the message at the MAP layer to extract at least one further piece of information from the message;

routing at least a portion of the message to its destination over a network separate to the telecommunications network based on the further information extracted from the message.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the at least one further piece of information extracted from the message is an identifier of the final destination entity for the message.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the method further comprises performing a destination lookup for the identifier of the final destination entity for the message.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein performing the destination lookup comprises requesting location information for the identifier of the final destination entity for the message from a remote component.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the message is routed to its destination without passing through an SMSC of the telecommunications network.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the message is routed to its destination without passing through an STP of the telecommunications network.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the message is passed to a message handling component, such as an SMSC or AMSC, to allow storage of the message.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the network over which the message is routed is selected according to at least one predetermined condition.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the at least one predetermined condition comprises at least one of:

information extracted from the message at the MAP layer;

the message type;

an identifier of the final destination entity for the message;

destination lookup information obtained for the identifier of the final destination entity for the message;

an identifier of the mobile entity which originated the message;

an identifier of the home SMSC for the message.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of routing the message over a network selected from the telecommunications network and a network separate to the telecommunications network further comprises:

selecting one connection from a plurality of connections to components in the telecommunications network, wherein the plurality of connections are connections separate from the telecommunications communication protocol links;

delivering the message into the telecommunications network via the selected one of the plurality of connections.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein at least one of the plurality of connections is bidirectional and the method further comprises receiving a message via at least one of the plurality of connections.

17. A method according claim 16 wherein the message is received via a first connection out of the plurality of connections and wherein the message is delivered into the telecommunications network via a selected one of the plurality of connections.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein the connection via which the message is delivered into the telecommunications network is selected according to the at least one further piece of information extracted from the message at the MAP layer.

19. A method according to claim 15 wherein at least one of the plurality of connections to components in the telecommunications network comprises a connection via a message delivery component, which processes received messages for transmission between components in the telecommunications network and transmits at least a portion of each message over one of the plurality of connections separate from the telecommunications communication protocol links.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein a plurality of the connections to components in the telecommunications network are via message delivery components and the wherein the message delivery components are interconnected over connections separate from the telecommunications communication protocol links.

21. A method according to claim 1 wherein the message is received from a component in the telecommunications network over an SS7 connection.

22. A method according to claim 19 wherein at least one message delivery component receives messages from more than one component in the telecommunications network.

23. A method according to claim 15 wherein the connections separate from the telecommunications communication protocol links are IP connections.

24. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the plurality of telecommunications components comprise switches in the telecommunications network.

25. A method according to claim 1 further comprising obtaining at least one piece of information from a location register before routing the message to its destination.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the location register stores location information for globally unique identifiers corresponding to applications connected to the telecommunications network.

27. A method according to claim 1 further comprising requesting at least one piece of information from a message handling component before routing the message to its destination, the message handling component comprising a device for obtaining information relating to mobile entities or applications connected to the mobile telecommunications network.

28. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least part of the message is routed to its destination via a message handling component.

29. A method according to claim 25 wherein the message handling component obtains at least one piece of information relating to mobile entities or applications from the location register.

30. A method according to claim 26 wherein the message handling component provides an interface between the telecommunications network and the applications for which location information is stored in the location register.

31. A method according to claim 25 wherein the at least one piece of information comprises at least one of:

location information for the destination entity corresponding to the identifier of the final destination of the message;

availability information for the destination entity corresponding to the identifier of the final destination of the message;

International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) information; and

prepaid credit information.

32. A method according to claim 1 wherein the message is received from a Gateway Mobile Switching Centre (G-MSC) in the telecommunications network.

33. A method according to claim 1 wherein the message is received from a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) in the telecommunications network.

34. A method of routing at least one message to a destination at a component connected to a network separate to the telecommunications network comprising:

receiving the message from the telecommunications network over a telecommunications communication protocol link;

interacting with the message at the MAP layer to determine at least one piece of information including information indicative of the destination from the message;

routing at least a portion of the message to its destination over the network separate to the telecommunications network without routing the message via an SMSC of the telecommunications network.

35. Apparatus for routing at least one message to a destination at a component connected to a telecommunications network comprising:

a receiving device for receiving the message from the telecommunications network over a telecommunications communication protocol link;

a device for interacting with the message at the MAP layer to determine at least one piece of information including information indicative of the destination from the message;

a device for selecting a route for a destination connected to the telecommunications network from at least a first route via the telecommunications network and a second route via a network separate to the telecommunications network based on the information determined;

a routing device for routing at least a portion of the message via the selected route.

36. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the at least one piece of information including information indicative of the destination determined from the message is used to determine the message type, wherein the message type may be one of:

mobile originated, mobile terminated, application originated or application terminated.

37. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the network separate to the telecommunications network is an IP network.

38. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the receiving device for receiving the message from the telecommunications network further comprises a device for terminating the message.

39. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the message is a mobile originated message, and the apparatus further comprises:

a device for parsing the message at the MAP layer to extract at least one further piece of information from the message;

a routing device for routing the message to its destination over a network separate to the telecommunications network based on the information extracted from the message.

43. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the message is routed to its destination without passing through an SMSC of the telecommunications network.

44. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the message is routed to its destination without passing through an STP of the telecommunications network.

45. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the message is passed to a message handling component, such as an SMSC or AMSC, to allow storage of the message.

46. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the routing device for routing the message over a network separate to the telecommunications network further comprises:

a device for selecting one connection from a plurality of connections to components in the telecommunications network, wherein the plurality of connections are connections separate from the telecommunications communication protocol links;

a device for delivering the message into the telecommunications network via the selected one of the plurality of connections.

47. Apparatus according to claim 46 wherein at least one of the plurality of connections is bidirectional and the apparatus further comprises a receiving device for receiving a message via at least one of the plurality of connections.

48. Apparatus according claim 46 wherein the message is received via a first connection out of the plurality of connections and wherein the message is delivered into the telecommunications network via a selected one of the plurality of connections.

49. Apparatus according to claim 46 wherein the connection via which the message is delivered into the telecommunications network is selected according to the at least one further piece of information extracted from the message at the MAP layer.

50. Apparatus according to claim 46 wherein at least one of the plurality of connections to components in the telecommunications network comprises a connection via a message delivery component, which comprises a device for processing received messages for transmission between components in the telecommunications network and a transmitting device for transmitting at least a portion of each message over one of the plurality of connections separate from the telecommunications communication protocol links.

51. Apparatus according to claim 50 wherein a plurality of the connections to components in the telecommunications network are via message delivery components and wherein the message delivery components are interconnected over connections separate from the telecommunications communication protocol links.

52. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the message is received from a component in the telecommunications network over an SS7 connection.

53. Apparatus according to claim 50 wherein at least one message delivery component comprises a receiving device for receiving messages from more than one component in the telecommunications network.

54. Apparatus according to claim 50 wherein a plurality of the connections to components in the telecommunications network are via message delivery components and wherein a distributed software system is run by the message delivery components.

55. Apparatus according to claim 46 wherein the connections separate from the telecommunications communication protocol links are IP connections.

56. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein at least some of the plurality of telecommunications components comprise switches in the telecommunications network.

57. Apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising a device for obtaining at least one piece of information from a location register before routing the message to its destination.

58. Apparatus according to claim 57 wherein the location register comprises a device for storing location information for globally unique identifiers corresponding to applications connected to the telecommunications network.

59. Apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising a device for requesting at least one piece of information from a message handling component and a routing device for routing the message to its destination based on the at least one piece of information received, the message handling component comprising a device for obtaining information relating to mobile entities or applications connected to the mobile telecommunications network.

60. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein at least part of the message is routed to its destination via a message handling component.

61. Apparatus according to claim 58 wherein the message handling component provides an interface between the telecommunications network and the applications for which location information is stored in the location register.

62. Apparatus according to claim 57 wherein the at least one piece of information comprises at least one of:

location information for the destination entity corresponding to the identifier of the final destination of the message;

availability information for the destination entity corresponding to the identifier of the final destination of the message;

International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) information; and

prepaid credit information.

63. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the message is received from a Gateway Mobile Switching Centre (G-MSC) in the telecommunications network.

64. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the message is received from a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) in the telecommunications network.

40. Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein the at least one further piece of information extracted from the message is an identifier of the final destination entity for the message.

41. Apparatus according to claim 41 further comprising a device for performing a destination lookup for the identifier of the final destination entity for the message.

42. Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the device for performing the destination lookup comprises a device for requesting location information for the identifier of the final destination entity for the message from a remote component.

65. Apparatus for routing at least one message to a destination at a component connected to a network separate to the telecommunications network comprising:

a receiving device for receiving the message from the telecommunications network over a telecommunications communication protocol link;

a device for interacting with the message at the MAP layer to determine at least one piece of information including information indicative of the destination from the message;

a routing device for routing at least a portion of the message to its destination over the network separate to the telecommunications network without routing the message via an SMSC of the telecommunications network.

66. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for implementing a method comprising the steps of:

receiving the message from the telecommunications network over a telecommunications communication protocol link;

interacting with the message at the MAP layer to determine at least one piece of information including information indicative of the destination, from the message;

selecting a route for the destination at a component connected to the telecommunications network from at least a first route via the telecommunications network and a second route via a network separate to the telecommunications network based on the information determined;

routing at least a portion of the message via the selected route.