CDMA MSC Routing USSD Requests to Gateway
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no existing solution for routing a CDMA MS USSD initiated request to a USSD Gateway in CDMA telecommunications wireless networks, which hinders the provision of USSD services such as pre-paid balance inquiry, balance transfer, and other applications.
Innovation Solution
A Mobile Switching Center (MSC) is enhanced to process and route USSD messages from a CDMA mobile station to a USSD Gateway by constructing a MAP SMDPP INVOKE message with parameters identifying USSD information, enabling authorization and routing of USSD requests based on subscriber profiles, and determining if subscribers are authorized to use USSD services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a CDMA MS initiates a USSD request, then the request needs to be routed to a USSD Gateway, but there is no existing routing mechanism in CDMA networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a USSD Gateway as an intermediary component that bridges the CDMA network and USSD services. The gateway receives USSD requests from the MSC, translates them into appropriate protocols, and routes them to the correct application servers. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by providing a standardized interface without requiring complex routing logic throughout the entire network.
Solution Approach 2:
The USSD Gateway is designed with multi-functionality to handle various USSD service types (balance inquiry, top-up, customer service) through a single unified component. This universal approach allows the gateway to serve multiple purposes, reducing the need for separate specialized routing mechanisms for each service type and thereby reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If subscriber profiles are enhanced with USSD information, then service authorization is enabled, but the complexity of profile management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring USSD-related subscriber information (such as USSD address, service permissions, and authorization parameters) into the HLR profiles during the subscriber registration phase. This advance preparation ensures that when USSD requests are made, the MSC can immediately retrieve and process the authorization information without complex real-time calculations, thereby maintaining reliability while managing complexity through upfront configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the MSC processes USSD messages in a first form and routes them as a second form, then compatibility with existing CDMA infrastructure is maintained, but message transformation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The USSD Gateway serves as a protocol translation intermediary that receives messages in the first form (CDMA-specific USSD format) from the MSC and transforms them into the second form (standardized USSD format) for routing to application servers. This concentrated translation approach at the gateway level maintains network compatibility while isolating the transformation complexity to a single component rather than distributing it throughout the network.
Data Source
AI summary
A Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of a CDMA telecommunications wireless network which includes a CDMA mobile station (MS), a CDMA base station (BS), a CDMA HLR, and an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Gateway. The MSC is capable of receiving a MS initiated USSD request from the BS, determining if the subscriber is authorized to use USSD services and if authorized constructing a MAP message containing the USSD Request which is then sent to a USSD Gateway identified by subscriber profile information received during registration. The MSC is also capable of identifying MAP messaging it receives that contains USSD messaging, constructing an IOS message that contains the USSD messaging and sending the IOS message to the BS which in turn sends it to the MS.