IP-SMS Gateway for LTE Network Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for providing SMS services in LTE networks require significant system integration efforts and redesign of applications, failing to effectively reuse existing functionalities and minimize integration costs.
Innovation Solution
A network entity comprising a controller entity for handling short message functionalities and an adapter entity for message format adaptation between circuit switched networks and IP multimedia subsystems, allowing seamless exchange of messages while maintaining existing functionalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing solutions for SMS over LTE are implemented (SMS over IP, CS Fallback, GAN), then SMS service capability is provided, but system integration complexity and redesign efforts increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an IP-SMS-GW (IP Short Message Service Gateway) as an intermediary component that bridges the legacy SMS infrastructure and the LTE IP-based network. This gateway performs message format conversion and protocol adaptation, allowing SMS services to be delivered over LTE without requiring extensive redesign of existing SMS applications or core network elements. The gateway acts as a mediator that translates between traditional SMS protocols and IP-based messaging protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the SMS service delivery architecture into distinct functional components: the legacy SMS center (SMSC), the IP-SMS-GW, and the LTE network elements. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently with well-defined interfaces, reducing the integration complexity that would arise from attempting to modify the entire SMS infrastructure simultaneously. The IP-SMS-GW specifically handles the conversion and adaptation functions as a separate module.
2Productivity
If SMS services are migrated to LTE network architecture, then future network evolution is enabled, but existing functionalities and services must be redesigned
Solution Approach 1:
The IP-SMS-GW is designed with multi-functionality to handle various message types (SMS, MMS, instant messaging) and support multiple protocol conversions. This universal design allows the same gateway infrastructure to serve multiple purposes throughout the migration process, reducing the need for separate systems for different messaging functionalities and minimizing overall redesign efforts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by deploying the IP-SMS-GW in advance to handle message routing and conversion before full SMS over LTE deployment. This allows the network to gradually transition while maintaining backward compatibility, enabling operators to prepare the IP-based messaging infrastructure ahead of time without forcing immediate changes to existing SMS services.
Data Source
AI summary
The application relates to SMS over LTE radio access. Several alternatives are already known, such as specified in 3GPP TS 24.247 which supports text messaging capabilities and 3GPP 23.204 which supports all existing SMS capabilities through SMS encapsulation in IP. Furthermore, 3GPP 23.272 which relates to SMS in CS fallback. A further technique is known as Generic Access Network which is under study in 3GPP 23.879 relating to CS domain services over evolved PS access and in Voice Over LTE VOLGA. The present application provides a solution for handling messages between legacy networks in the form of circuit-switched networks and IP network architecture in the form of an IP Multimedia Subsystem IMS while minimizing the efforts needed for system integration by maximal reuse of existing functionalities. This is achieved by an entity (100) which adapts messages received from the IMS (50) in such a way that the appear to a controller entity (200) providing conventional short message functionalities as if they have been received from a mobile terminal accessing a radio access network through a radio network interface of a circuit-switched network (40).