System and method for providing a proxy in a short message service (SMS) environment

• US 20060199597A1
• Filed: 03/02/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wright, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,941,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

According to a particular embodiment, a method for distributing messages is provided that includes receiving one or more short message service (SMS) messages. The method also includes distributing one or more of the messages to a selected one or a plurality of short message service center (SMSC) servers.

Claims

1. An apparatus for distributing messages, comprising:

a short message service center (SMSC) proxy coupled to one or more SMSC servers, wherein the SMSC proxy is operable to receive one or more SMS messages and to distribute one or more of the messages to a selected SMSC server.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the SMS messages are distributed based on their application type, and wherein the SMS messages are either segmented or non-segmented.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the SMS messages are distributed based on their B-address, an A-address, or on message content.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein one or more of the SMS messages are distributed based on a weighted round robin algorithm, which can be executed independent of, or in conjunction with, evaluating the B-addresses of the SMS messages.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the SMS messages are distributed based on network availability, network congestion, or on a specific B-address in a range of B-addresses that are bound to a specific SMSC server within a weighted set.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the SMSC proxy is provided in one or more mobile switching center (MSC) sites, and wherein routing of the SMS messages can be done through an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the SMSC proxy is coupled to an IP transfer point (ITP), which reflects a stateful proxy, and wherein the ITP is operable to communicate with one or more SMSC servers.

8. A method for distributing messages, comprising:

receiving one or more short message service (SMS) messages; and

distributing one or more of the messages to a selected one or a plurality of short message service center (SMSC) servers.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein one or more of the SMS messages are distributed based on their application type.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein one or more of the SMS messages are distributed based on their B-address.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein one or more of the SMS messages are distributed based on a weighted round robin algorithm, which can be executed independent of, or in conjunction with, evaluating the B-addresses of the SMS messages.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein one or more of the SMS messages are distributed based on their application type, and wherein the SMS messages are either segmented or non-segmented.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

routing one or more of the SMS messages through an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein an IP transfer point (ITP) is provided, which reflects a stateful proxy, and wherein the ITP is operable to communicate with one or more SMSC servers.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

terminating a dialogue request from a selected one of a plurality of MSCs because the dialogue is to be routed based on the B-addresses of one or more of the SMS messages.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the dialogue is terminated in order to obtain a next message, which contains a selected one of the SMS messages.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

opening a new dialogue with a selected one of the SMSC servers, wherein the two dialogues are tied together, wherein an address associated with an origination or a servicing MSC can be preserved.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

withholding a response to a selected one of a plurality of MSCs until a result from the selected SMSC server is received.

19. Software for distributing messages, the software being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to:

receive one or more short message service (SMS) messages; and

distribute one or more of the messages to a selected one or a plurality of short message service center (SMSC) servers.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein one or more of the SMS messages are distributed based on their application type.

21. The medium of claim 19, wherein one or more of the SMS messages are distributed based on network availability, network congestion, or on a specific B-address in a range of B-addresses that are bound to a specific SMSC server within a weighted set.

22. The medium of claim 19, wherein one or more of the SMS messages are distributed based on a weighted round robin algorithm, which can be executed independent of, or in conjunction with, evaluating the B-addresses of the SMS messages.

23. The medium of claim 19, wherein one or more of the SMS messages are distributed based on their application type, and wherein the SMS messages are either segmented or non-segmented.

24. The medium of claim 19, wherein the code is further operable to:

terminate a dialogue request at a selected one of a plurality of MSCs because the dialogue is to be routed based on the B-addresses of one or more of the SMS messages.

25. The medium of claim 19, wherein the dialogue is terminated in order to obtain a next message, which contains a selected one of the SMS messages.

26. The medium of claim 25, wherein the code is further operable to:

open a new dialogue with a selected one of the SMSC servers, wherein the two dialogues are tied together.

27. The medium of claim 19, wherein the code is further operable to:

withhold a response to a selected one of a plurality of MSCs until a result from the selected SMSC server is received.