Gateway Entity for SMS Service Continuity in WiFi Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Short messaging services, such as SMS and MMS, are unavailable to users in internetworked wireless local area networks (WLANs) that combine 3G and WiFi protocols, causing loss of access to essential communication services for mobile stations.

Innovation Solution

A new gateway entity is introduced, combining a packet switched radio network interface with a mobile network interface, allowing mobile stations to receive short messaging services by detecting registration and performing location updates, enabling traffic routing from the packet switched radio network to the mobile network, even in WiFi environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If WiFi protocols are used in internetworked WLANs, then wireless communication coverage and flexibility are improved, but short messaging services become unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless communication coverageVSAvoidshort messaging service availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a gateway entity as an intermediary component that bridges the WiFi network and the packet-switched radio network. This gateway receives short messaging service messages from the packet-switched radio network and forwards them to mobile stations connected via WiFi, thereby enabling SMS/MMS delivery in WiFi environments without requiring the WiFi protocol itself to support these services native

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If mobile stations connect to WiFi networks, then network access flexibility is improved, but access to packet-switched radio network services is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork access flexibilityVSAvoidservice continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway entity acts as a mediator that maintains the connection between mobile stations and the packet-switched radio network even when stations are physically connected to WiFi. The gateway performs location updates and message routing to ensure service continuity across network boundaries

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway entity performs multiple functions including location update management, message routing, and network interworking. It handles both the packet-switched radio network protocol and the WiFi network protocol, making it a universal interface that supports service delivery across different network types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7912037B2Integrating mobility agents for short messaging services

Publication Date: 2011.03.22 INTEL CORP

AI summary

A method of providing messaging services for GSM or 3G mobile stations is provided. A gateway detects a mobile network registration from a mobile station, and performs a location area update procedure with previous support nodes from its home public land mobile network. The gateway then receives data for the mobile station from a packet switched radio network and transmits the data for the mobile station through the mobile network.