Digital cellular telecommunications with short message service over the packet channel

• US 5,978,685 A
• Filed: 12/15/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Laiho, Keijo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woldetatios, Yemane
• Application Number:
  US08/990,499
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/556, 455/557, 455/558, 455/559, 455/560, 455/445, 455/567, 455/575, 455/553, 455/403, 370/349, 370/522, 370/524, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 340/825.04, 340/825.44, 340/825.79
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

An apparatus in a wireless telecommunications network is provided with Short Message Service via a circuit switched channel unless the apparatus is operating in a packet mode. If the apparatus is operating in the packet mode, the apparatus is provided with Short Message Service via a packet channel.

Claims

1. A method of providing Short Message Service in a wireless telecommunications network, comprising:

determining whether a receiving apparatus to which a Short Message Service message is to be delivered is operating in a packet mode;

delivering the message to the receiving apparatus via a circuit switched channel unless the receiving apparatus is operating in the packet mode; and

delivering the message to the receiving apparatus via a packet channel if the receiving apparatus is operating in the packet mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving apparatus is a mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said last-mentioned delivering step includes using a TCP/IP application to deliver the message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the TCP/IP application is an E-mail browser.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said last-mentioned delivering step includes sending the message from a Short Message Services Center to the mobile communication device via the packet channel.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the TCP/IP application is dedicated to sending Short Message Service messages over the packet channel.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said last-mentioned delivering step includes using the layer 3 protocol of the OSI protocol stack to deliver the message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said last-mentioned delivering step includes using a circuit switched channel to send the message from a Short Message Services Center to a mobile services switching center associated with the packet channel, and sending the message from the mobile services switching center to the mobile communication device using the layer 3 protocol.

9. A method of providing Short Message Service in a wireless telecommunications network, comprising:

determining whether a sending apparatus from which a Short Message Service message is to be sent is operating in a packet mode;

sending the message from the sending apparatus via a circuit switched channel unless the sending apparatus is operating in the packet mode; and

sending the message from the sending apparatus via a packet channel if the sending apparatus is operating in the packet mode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sending apparatus is a mobile communication device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said last-mentioned sending step includes using a TCP/IP application to send the message from the sending apparatus.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the TCP/IP application is an E-mail browser.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said last-mentioned sending step includes sending the message from the mobile communication device to a Short Message Services Center via the packet channel.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the TCP/IP application is dedicated to sending Short Message Service messages over the packet channel.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said last-mentioned sending step includes using the layer 3 protocol of the OSI protocol stack to send the message.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said last-mentioned sending step includes using a circuit switched channel to send the message from a mobile services switching center associated with the packet channel to a Short Message Services Center, and sending the message from the mobile communication device to the mobile services switching center using the layer 3 protocol.

17. A method of providing Short Message Service in a wireless telecommunications network, comprising:

determining that transmission of a Short Message Service message is desired; and

sending the message via a packet channel using the layer 3 protocol of the OSI protocol stack.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said sending step includes sending the message to a mobile communication device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said sending step includes sending the message from a mobile communication device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said sending step includes using the layer 3 protocol of the OSI stack to send the message between a mobile communication device and a mobile services switching center associated with the packet channel.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said sending step includes using a circuit switched channel to send the message between the mobile services switching center and a Short Message Services center.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said sending step includes using the SETUP message of the layer 3 protocol to send the message.

23. A method of transmitting a message in a wireless telecommunications network, comprising:

determining whether a receiving apparatus to which the message is to be delivered is operating in a packet mode;

delivering the message to the receiving apparatus via a circuit switched channel unless the receiving apparatus is operating in the packet mode; and

delivering the message to the receiving apparatus via a packet channel if the receiving apparatus is operating in the packet mode.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the receiving apparatus is a mobile communication device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said last-mentioned delivering step includes using the layer 3 protocol of the OSI protocol stack to deliver the message.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the message is a Message Waiting Indication message from a voice mail system.

27. A method of transmitting a message in a wireless telecommunications network, comprising:

determining whether a sending apparatus from which the message is to be sent is operating in a packet mode;

sending the message from the sending apparatus via a circuit switched channel unless the sending apparatus is operating in the packet mode; and

sending the message from the sending apparatus via a packet channel if the sending apparatus is operating in the packet mode.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the sending apparatus is a mobile communication device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said last-mentioned sending step includes using the layer 3 protocol of the OSI protocol stack to send the message.

30. A method in a wireless telecommunications network of transmitting a message to a receiving apparatus capable of receiving the message via either one of a circuit switched channel and a packet channel which are each available to deliver the message to the receiving apparatus, comprising:

determining whether the receiving apparatus is operating in a packet mode wherein the receiving apparatus can receive the message via the packet channel;

delivering the message to the receiving apparatus via the circuit switched channel unless the receiving apparatus is operating in the packet mode; and

delivering the message to the receiving apparatus via the packet channel if the receiving apparatus is operating in the packet mode.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the message is a Short Message Service message.

32. A method in a wireless telecommunications network of transmitting a message from a sending apparatus capable of sending the message via either one of a circuit switched channel and a packet channel which are each available for sending the message from the sending apparatus, comprising:

determining whether the sending apparatus is operating in a packet mode wherein the sending apparatus can send the message via the packet channel;

sending the message from the sending apparatus via the circuit switched channel unless the sending apparatus is operating in the packet mode; and

sending the message from the sending apparatus via the packet channel if the sending apparatus is operating in the packet mode.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the message is a Short Message Service message.