Intelligent delivery agent for short message distribution center

• US 7,925,283 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Dewey, Michael, Smith, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Addy; Anthony S
• Application Number:
  US10/899,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,450 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/414.1, 455/461, 455/432, 455/433, 455/445, 455/462, 455/426.1, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/413, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 709206-208, 370/352, 370/355, 370/356, 370/401
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/50 Queue scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting broadcasting in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53316 Messaging centre selected by message originator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• 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 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 : Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A message distribution center (MDC) and Intelligent Delivery Agent are implemented in a wireless Internet gateway interposed between content providers and a wireless carrier to subjectively examine and direct messages via SMTP based on desired rules (e.g., non-peak hours, paying subscribers only, etc.) using standard SMTP Gateway and other well-known protocols. The MDC includes an individual queue for each subscriber, and the provider is informed through conventional SMTP protocol messages that the short message has been accepted. If the carrier has specifically disallowed service for a particular MIN (e.g., in the case of churning), then the content provider is informed through an SMTP interchange that the recipient is invalid. An MDC provides a single mechanism for interacting with subscribers of multiple carriers, regardless of each carrier'"'"'s underlying infrastructure. For the carrier, an MDC can protect their SS7 network by intelligently throttling messages and configuring message delivery parameters to be more network friendly. An MDC can receive outside a relevant wireless network recipient handset presence information. In the disclosed embodiment, a content provider communicates with the MDC using SMTP protocol messages, and the MDC communicates with wireless carriers preferably using RMI/SMPP techniques.

Claims

1. A method of efficiently routing short messages to a short message service center (SMSC), comprising:

buffering, before delivery to a relevant short message service center (SMSC), a short message at an intermediary message distribution center (MDC) until a mobile device has powered up;

accessing a home location register of a wireless carrier network to determine when said mobile device associated with said short message has powered up by inspecting SS7 data from said home location register relating to said mobile device; and

in response to said determining when said mobile device has powered up, automatically delivering said short message from said intermediary MDC to said relevant short message service center (SMSC) for delivery to said mobile device, foregoing delivery of said short message to said relevant SMSC when said mobile device is determined to be powered off, based on information obtained from said inspection of SS7 data.

2. The method of efficiently routing short messages to a short message service center (SMSC) according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting said short message to a wireless carrier using Remote Method Invocation (RMI) protocols.

3. The method of efficiently routing short messages to a short message service center (SMSC) according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting said short message to a wireless carrier using Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) protocols.

4. The method of efficiently routing short messages to a short message service center (SMSC) according to claim 1, further comprising:

interposing said MDC between a content provider and a wireless carrier; and

providing, in said MDC, a subscriber message queue to queue pending short message for respective subscribers;

wherein said automatically delivering of said short message sends short messages from said subscriber message queue.

5. The method of efficiently routing short messages to a short message service center (SMSC) according to claim 1, further comprising:

interposing said MDC between a content provider and a wireless carrier;

providing a subscriber table in a memory of said MDC to record subscriber information for respective subscribers including message delivery attempts, a billing identifier, and an active/disabled account status; and

controlling said automatic delivering of said short message according to said subscriber information in said subscriber table.

6. Apparatus for efficiently routing short messages between a content or service provider and a short message service center (SMSC) of a wireless network, said apparatus comprising:

means for buffering, before delivery to a relevant short message service center (SMSC), a short message at an intermediary message distribution center (MDC) until a mobile device has powered up;

means for accessing a home location register of a wireless carrier network to determine when said mobile device associated with said short message has powered up by inspecting SS7 data from said home location register relating to said mobile device; and

means for automatically delivering said short message from said-intermediary MDC to said relevant short message service center (SMSC) for subsequent delivery to said mobile device, in response to said determining when said mobile device has powered up, foregoing delivery of said short message to said relevant SMSC when said mobile device is determined to be powered off, based on information obtained from said inspection of SS7 data.

7. The apparatus for efficiently routing short messages to a short message service center (SMSC) according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for transmitting said short message to a wireless carrier using Remote Method Invocation (RMI) protocols.

8. The apparatus for efficiently routing short messages to a short message service center (SMSC) according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for transmitting said short message to a wireless carrier using Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) protocols.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a subscriber message queue, in said MDC, to queue pending short message for respective subscribers;

wherein said means for automatic delivering delivers said short messages in said subscriber message queue.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a subscriber table, in a memory of said MDC, to record subscriber information for respective subscribers including message delivery attempts, a billing identifier, and an active/disabled account status;

wherein said automatic delivering of said short message delivers said short message according to subscriber information in said subscriber table.

11. Apparatus for efficiently routing short messages to a short message service center (SMSC) of a wireless network, comprising:

a buffer integrated with an intermediary message distribution center (MDC) to buffer, before delivery to a relevant short message service center (SMSC), a short message until a mobile device has powered up;

a determiner, integrated with said intermediary MDC, to access a home location register of said wireless network to determine when said mobile device of said short message has powered up by inspecting SS7 data from a home location register relating to said mobile device; and

a deliverer to automatically deliver in response to said determining when said mobile device has powered up, from said intermediary MDC, said short message to said relevant SMSC, foregoing delivery of said short message to said relevant SMSC when said mobile device is determined to be powered off, based on information obtained from said inspection of SS7 data of said home location register.

12. The apparatus for efficiently routing short messages to a short message service center (SMSC) according to claim 11, further comprising:

a transmitter to transmit said short message to a wireless carrier using Remote Method Invocation (RMI) protocols.

13. The apparatus for efficiently routing short messages to a short message service center (SMSC) according to claim 11, further comprising:

a transmitter to transmit said short message to a wireless carrier using Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) protocols.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a subscriber message queue, in said MDC, to queue pending short messages for respective subscribers wherein said deliverer delivers said short message in said subscriber message queue.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a subscriber table in a memory of said MDC to record subscriber information for respective subscribers including message delivery attempts, a billing identifier, and an active/disable account status;

wherein said deliverer delivers said short message according to subscriber information in said subscriber table.