Method for transporting short messages in a wireless telecommunications system

• US 5,878,397 A
• Filed: 07/10/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Stille, Mats, Willars, Per
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABEBE, DANIEL DEMELASH
• Application Number:
  US08/677,982
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 455/433, 455/437, 455/439, 455/466, 455/422, 455/403, 455/560, 455/445
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transporting a short message between a subscriber terminal and a digital telecommunications system is disclosed. A short message including user information and control data is created at the subscriber terminal. The short message user information is inserted into a user information field in a call setup message, in accordance with a standard call control protocol. A predetermined code is inserted into a locking shift field in the call setup message, which creates a short message control data field in the call setup message. The short message control data is inserted into the short message control data field in the call setup message, and the call setup message is transported between the subscriber terminal and the system. Also, a method and apparatus for transporting the short message between the digital telecommunications system and a short message service center is disclosed. The short message user information is inserted into a user field of an initial address message, in accordance with an ISUP protocol. The short message control data is inserted in an access transport field of the initial address message, and the initial address message is transported between the digital communications system and the short message service center.

Claims

1. A method for transporting short messages in a digital telecommunications system in which a standard call control protocol is used to connect a plurality of subscriber stations to said system, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a short message including user information and control data at a first of said plurality of subscriber stations;

inserting said short message user information into a user information field in a call setup message, in accordance with said standard call control protocol;

by inserting a predetermined code into a locking shift information field in said call setup message, creating a short message control data field in said call setup message;

inserting said short message control data into said short message control data field in said call setup message; and

transporting said call setup message from said first of said plurality of subscriber stations to said system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said standard call control protocol comprises a Q.931 call control protocol.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said user information field comprises a user-user information element.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said short message control data field comprises a short message control information element.

5. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of inserting a called party number in a called party number information field.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises a Public Land Mobile Network.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises an Integrated Services Digital Network.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first of said plurality of said subscriber stations comprises a mobile station.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said transporting step comprises the step of transporting said call setup message from said mobile station to a mobile services switching center in said system.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first of said plurality of subscriber stations comprises a fixed terminal.

11. A method for transporting short messages in a digital telecommunications system in which a standard call control protocol is used to connect a plurality of subscriber stations to said system, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a short message including user information and control data at a first of said plurality of subscriber stations;

inserting said short message user information into a user information field in a call setup message, in accordance with said standard call control protocol;

by inserting a predetermined code into said call setup message, creating a short message control data field in said call setup message;

inserting said short message control data into said short message control data field in said call setup message;

transporting said call setup message from said first of said plurality of subscriber stations to said system;

wherein said predetermined code is inserted into a locking shift information field; and

wherein said predetermined code comprises a locking shift-6 code.

12. A method for transporting a short message comprised of user information and control data from a digital telecommunications system to a subscriber terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

by inserting a predetermined code into a locking shift information field in a call setup message, creating a short message control data field in said call setup message;

inserting said short message control data into said short message control data field in said call setup message; and

transporting said call setup message from said system to said subscriber terminal.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of inserting said short message user information into a user information field in said call setup message, in accordance with a standard call control protocol.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said standard call control protocol comprises a Q.931 call control protocol.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of inserting a calling party number in a calling party number information field.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of inserting a calling party number in a short message control information element field.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said user information field comprises a user-user information element.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein said short message control data field comprises a short message control information element.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein said digital telecommunications system comprises a Public Land Mobile Network.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said transporting step comprises the step of transporting said call setup message from a mobile services switching center in said Public Land Mobile Network to a mobile subscriber terminal.

21. The method according to claim 12, wherein said digital telecommunications system comprises an Integrated Services Digital Network.

22. The method according to claim 12, wherein said subscriber terminal comprises a fixed terminal.

23. A method for transporting a short message comprised of user information and control data from a digital telecommunications system to a subscriber terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

by inserting a predetermined code into a first field in a call setup message, creating a short message control data field in said call setup message;

inserting said short message control data into said short message control data field in said call setup message;

transporting said call setup message from said system to said subscriber terminal;

wherein said first field comprises a locking shift information field; and

wherein said predetermined code comprises a locking shift-6 code.

24. A method for transporting a short message comprised of user information and control data between a digital telecommunications system and a short message service center, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting said short message control data in an access transport field of an initial address message, in accordance with an ISUP protocol; and

transporting said initial address message between said digital communications system and said short message service center.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of inserting said short message user information into a user field of an initial address message, in accordance with said ISUP protocol.

26. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

inserting an identity of said short message service center in a called party number field of said initial address message;

inserting an identity of an originator of said short message in an access transport field of said initial address message; and

transporting said initial address message from said digital communications system to said short message service center.

27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

inserting an identity of said short message service center in a called party number field of said initial address message;

inserting an identity of an originator of said short message in a calling party number field of said initial address message; and

transporting said initial address message from said digital communications system to said short message service center.

28. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

inserting an identity of said short message service center in an access transport field of said initial address message;

inserting an identity of a recipient of said short message in a called party number field of said initial address message; and

transporting said initial address message from said short message service center to said digital communications system.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein said digital communications system comprises a Public Land Mobile Network.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said Public Land Mobile Network further comprises a mobile services switching center.

31. The method according to claim 24, wherein said digital communications system comprises an Integrated Services Digital Network.

32. The method according to claim 24, wherein said step of inserting further comprises the step of inserting a locking shift element in said access transport field of said initial address message.

33. A method for transporting a response short message comprised of text information and control data from a digital telecommunications system to a subscriber terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting said response short message control data in an access transport field of a release message, in accordance with an ISUP protocol; and

transporting said release message from a short message service center to a circuit-switched network;

by inserting a predetermined code into a first field in a disconnect call control message, creating a short message control data field in said disconnect call control message;

inserting said short message control data into said short message control data field in said disconnect call control message; and

transporting said disconnect call control message from said circuit-switched network to said subscriber terminal.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

inserting said response text information into a user-user parameter of said release message; and

transferring said response text information from said user-user parameter of said release message to a user-user information element of said disconnect call control message.

35. A method for transporting a response short message comprised of text information and control data from a subscriber terminal to a digital telecommunications system, said method comprising the steps of:

by inserting a predetermined code into a first field in a release complete call control message, creating a short message control data field in said release complete call control message;

inserting said response short message control data into said short message control data field in said release complete call control message;

transporting said release complete call control message from said subscriber terminal to a circuit-switched network;

transferring said response short message control data to an access transport field of a release message, in accordance with an ISUP protocol; and

transporting said release message from said circuit-switched network to a short message service center.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the steps of:

inserting said release text information in a user-user information element of said release complete call control message; and

transferring said release text information from said user-user information element of said release complete call control message to a user-user parameter of said release message.

37. The method according to claim 35, wherein:

said first field comprises a locking shift information field; and

said step of transferring further comprises the step of transferring a locking shift element to said access transport field of said release message.

38. A digital telecommunications system for use in transporting a short message between at least two subscriber terminals capable of interconnecting with said digital telecommunications system, comprising:

a first of said at least two subscriber terminals operable to;

create a short message including user information and control data;

by inserting a predetermined code into a first field in said call setup message, in accordance with a standard call control protocol, create a short message control data field in said call setup message;

insert said short message control data into said short message control data field in said call setup message; and

transport said call setup message to said system;

a circuit-switched network interconnected with said first of said at least two subscriber terminals and operable to;

receive said call setup message;

insert said short message control data from said call setup message in an access transport field of said initial address message, in accordance with an ISUP protocol; and

transport said initial address message from said system; and

a short message service center connected to said circuit-switched network and operable to;

receive said initial address message transported from said circuit-switched network;

extract said control data from said received initial address message; and

forward said short message to a second of said at least two subscriber terminals.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein said first of said at least two subscriber terminals is further operable to insert said short message user information into a user information field in said call setup message, in accordance with said standard call control protocol.

40. The system according to claim 38, wherein said circuit-switched network is further operable to insert said short message user information from said call setup message into a user field of said initial address message, in accordance with said ISUP protocol.

41. The digital telecommunications system according to claim 38, wherein said system comprises a Public Land Mobile Network.

42. The digital telecommunications system according to claim 38, wherein said system comprises an Integrated Services Digital Network.