Method and apparatus for data message delivery to a recipient migrated across technology networks

• US 9,980,079 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Cai, Yigang, Sharma, Alok
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): BIBBEE, CHAYCE R
• Application Number:
  US12/171,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20100009701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,602 Days
• Field of Search: 455466, 455445, 455433, 455417, 455414, 4554261, 4555501, 4554121
• 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 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);

receiving from the first STP a message indicating whether the destination number is a migrated or a non-migrated destination number based on data received from the first database;

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

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, and when more than a pre-defined number of subscribers in a destination number range have migrated to a different network, the SMSC redefines the destination number range to a new network range that will impact at least some of the non-migrated subscribers in this range.

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

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

4. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver that is configured to receive 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;

a transmitter that is configured to send 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);

wherein;

the receiver is further configured to receive from the first STP a message indicating whether the destination number is a migrated or a non-migrated destination number based on data received from the first database;

the receiver is further configured to receive an error indication if the destination number and the first routing request are for different communication networks;

the transmitter is further configured to send a second routing request to a second database in a second network for SMS routing information for the destination number via a second STP, and the apparatus further comprises a redefining mechanism that is configured operative-to redefine a destination number range to a new network range that will impact at least some of the non-migrated subscribers in this range when more than a pre-defined number of subscribers in the destination number range have migrated to a different network.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the SMSC includes a loop protection mechanism that prevents forwarding a routing request message again if one or more provisioned network trials have failed.

6. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory 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);

receiving from the first STP a message indicating whether the destination number is a migrated or a non-migrated destination number based on data received from the first database;

receiving an error indication at the SMSC if the destination number and the first routing request are for different communication networks, 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; and

redefining a destination number range to a new network range that will impact at least some of the non-migrated subscribers in this range when more than a pre-defined number of subscribers in the destination number range have migrated to a different network.

7. The product of claim 6, wherein the SMSC includes a loop protection mechanism that prevents forwarding a routing request message again if one or more provisioned network trials have failed.