METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DATA MESSAGE DELIVERY TO A RECIPIENT MIGRATED ACROSS TECHNOLOGY NETWORKS

• US 20100009701A1
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Cai, Yigang, Sharma, Alok
• Granted Patent: US 9,980,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A method of providing SMS delivery to recipients migrated across different technology networks. The method includes receiving a short message service (SMS) text message from a sender at a short message service center (SMSC), wherein the SMS text message includes a destination number for a recipient of the SMS text message. A first routing request is sent to a database in a first network for SMS routing information for the destination number via a first signal transfer point (STP). The first STP determines whether the destination number is a migrated or a non-migrated destination number based on data received from the first database. An an error indication is provided to the SMSC if the destination number and the first routing request are for different communication networks. Finally, a second routing request is sent to a second database in a second network for SMS routing information for the destination number via a second STP.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a short message service (SMS) text message from a sender at a short message service center (SMSC), wherein the SMS text message includes a destination number for a recipient of the SMS text message;

sending a first routing request to a database in a first network for SMS routing information for the destination number via a first signal transfer point (STP);

determining at the first STP whether the destination number is a migrated or a non-migrated destination number based on data received from the first database;

providing an error indication to the SMSC if the destination number and the first routing request are for different communication networks; and

sending a second routing request to a second database in a second network for SMS routing information for the destination number via a second STP.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the destination number migration records in the first database via the SMSC, whereby a future SMS text message will request to send a routing request message to the second database first; and

sending a message to the second database for the current failed SMS delivery.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first technology network comprises a CDMA, GSM, UMTS (WCDMA), IMS, or TD-SCDMA network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second technology network comprises a CDMA, GSM, UMTS (WCDMA), IMS, or TD-SCDMA network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the SMSC dynamically updating the first database for migrated and non-migrated subscribers, wherein the entry of each subscriber includes one or more of the following types of data;

directory number data, single or dual radio model type data, current assigned network data, next allowed network data, rest of potential networks data, and re-routing trial number data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when more than 50% of subscribers in a destination number range have migrated to a different network, the SMSC 12 redefining the destination number range to a new network range that will impact the rest of the non-migrated subscribers in this range.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the SMSC includes a loop protection mechanism that prevents forwarding a routing request message again if all provisioned network trials have failed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first database comprises a home location register.

9. An apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a short message service (SMS) text message from a sender, wherein the SMS text message includes a destination number for a recipient of the SMS text message;

first sending means for sending a first routing request to a database in a first network for SMS routing information for the destination number via a first signal transfer point (STP);

determining means for determining at the first STP whether the destination number is a migrated or a non-migrated destination number based on data received from the first database;

providing means for providing an error indication to the SMSC if the destination number and the first routing request are for different communication networks; and

second sending means for sending a second routing request to a second database in a second network for SMS routing information for the destination number via a second STP.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

updating means for updating the destination number migration records in the first database via the SMSC, whereby a future SMS text message will request to send a routing request message to the second database first; and

forwarding means for forwarding a message to the second database for the current failed SMS delivery.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first technology network comprises a CDMA, GSM, UMTS (WCDMA), IMS, or TD-SCDMA network.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

updating means for dynamically updating the first database for migrated and non-migrated subscribers, wherein the entry of each subscriber includes one or more of the following types of data;

directory number data, single or dual radio model type data, current assigned network data, next allowed network data, rest of potential networks data, and re-routing trial number data.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for redefining the destination number range to a new network range that will impact the rest of the non-migrated subscribers in this range when more than 50% of subscribers in a destination number range have migrated to a different network.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the SMSC includes a loop protection mechanism that prevents forwarding a routing request message again if all provisioned network trials have failed.

15. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-usable data carrier storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising;

receiving a short message service (SMS) text message from a sender at a short message service center (SMSC), wherein the SMS text message includes a destination number for a recipient of the SMS text message;

sending a first routing request to a database in a first network for SMS routing information for the destination number via a first signal transfer point (STP);

determining at the first STP whether the destination number is a migrated or a non-migrated destination number based on data received from the first database;

providing an error indication to the SMSC if the destination number and the first routing request are for different communication networks; and

sending a second routing request to a second database in a second network for SMS routing information for the destination number via a second STP.

16. The product of claim 15, wherein the computer-usable data carrier stores instructions that, when executed by a computer, further cause the computer to further perform the following steps:

updating the destination number migration records in the first database via the SMSC, whereby a future SMS text message will request to send a routing request message to the second database first; and

sending a message to the second database for the current failed SMS delivery.

17. The product of claim 15, wherein the first technology network comprises a CDMA, GSM, UMTS (WCDMA), IMS, or TD-SCDMA network.

18. The product of claim 15, wherein the computer-usable data carrier stores instructions that, when executed by a computer, further cause the computer to further perform the following step:

dynamically updating the first database for migrated and non-migrated subscribers, wherein the entry of each subscriber includes one or more of the following types of data;

directory number data, single or dual radio model type data, current assigned network data, next allowed network data, rest of potential networks data, and re-routing trial number data.

19. The product of claim 15, wherein the computer-usable data carrier stores instructions that, when executed by a computer, further cause the computer to further perform the following step:

redefining the destination number range to a new network range that will impact the rest of the non-migrated subscribers in this range when more than 50% of subscribers in a destination number range have migrated to a different network.

20. The product of claim 15, wherein the SMSC includes a loop protection mechanism that prevents forwarding a routing request message again if all provisioned network trials have failed.