Inter-Working Function for Converged IP and SMS Session Establishment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing messaging services, such as IM, SMS, MMS, and PoC, are not compatible with each other due to different protocols, making it difficult for users to communicate across different service types, especially when one service requires session establishment and the other does not.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for establishing a session between a converged IP messaging client and a Short Messaging (SM) client, using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message, an Inter-Working Function (IWF), and transforming message formats to support different messaging services, allowing communication between clients with different service types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If messaging services use different protocols for service types (IM, SMS, MMS, PoC), then each service can be optimized for its specific functionality, but the services cannot be compatible with each other and interworking between different service types becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an Inter-Working Function (IWF) as an intermediary component that mediates between messaging services using different protocols. The IWF receives messages from one service type (e.g., IM client), transforms the message format and protocol, and delivers it to the target service type (e.g., SMS client). This intermediary enables compatibility between services while allowing each service to maintain its optimized protocol, resolving the contradiction between service optimization and interworking compatibility.
2Ease of operation
If an IM client attempts to communicate with an SM client using SIP protocol, then the IM client can initiate session-based communication, but the SM client cannot recognize the SIP INVITE message and respond appropriately since SMS does not use session establishment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the SIP INVITE message parameters into SMS-compatible parameters. The IWF converts the SIP protocol parameters (session establishment fields, message types) into SMS protocol parameters (message body format, delivery indicators). This parameter transformation allows the SM client to process the message as a standard SMS while the IM client operates with session establishment, ensuring both ease of operation and reliable message delivery.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a converged messaging service is introduced to enable communication between different service types, then interworking between services is improved, but the complexity of the system increases due to protocol transformation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an Inter-Working Function (IWF) as an intermediary component that mediates between messaging services using different protocols. The IWF receives messages from one service type (e.g., IM client), transforms the message format and protocol, and delivers it to the target service type (e.g., SMS client). This intermediary enables compatibility between services while allowing each service to maintain its optimized protocol, resolving the contradiction between service optimization and interworking compatibility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If message format transformation is performed at the IWF to support both session-based and non-session-based services, then compatibility between IM and SMS is achieved, but the processing time and complexity of message delivery increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring transformation rules and message format templates in the IWF. Common message types and their corresponding transformations are pre-defined, allowing the IWF to perform rapid format conversion without complex real-time analysis. This preliminary preparation reduces the processing time required for protocol transformation while maintaining comprehensive compatibility between different messaging services.
Data Source
AI summary
A converged IP messaging client transmits a session establishment request for interactive message communication. When a converged IP messaging server receives the request, it determines whether a target client of the interactive message communication uses a converged IP messaging service. If not, the converged IP messaging server transmits the session establishment request to an IWF. If it is determined that the target client is an SM client, the IWF generates an interactive message communication request by transforming a format of the session establishment request into an SMS format and transmits the interactive message communication request to the SM client. If the IWF receives an acceptance response from the SM client in response to the interactive message communication request within an effective response time, a session for the interactive message communication can be established between the converged IP messaging client and the SM client.