Local SMS Function for 5G-4G Interworking
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Solution Overview
Problem
5G networks face challenges in seamless interworking with 4G networks for short message service (SMS) due to excessive signaling load and dependency on circuit-switched identities, leading to inefficient SMS delivery and location updates across different domains.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where the 5G core network uses an internal policy to select and manage a local SMS function within the visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), allowing for separate handling of location updates and SMS delivery across multiple domains, reducing reliance on home-routed models and circuit-switched identities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the 5G core network uses home-routed SMS function addresses for SMS delivery, then SMS service compatibility is maintained, but signaling load increases and interworking efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a local SMS function as an intermediary entity in the VPLMN that mediates between the 5G core network and the SMS delivery process. This local SMS function receives SMS messages locally and handles delivery without requiring constant communication with the home-routed SMS function, thereby reducing signaling load while maintaining SMS service compatibility through the intermediary's coordination
2Adaptability or versatility
If the 5G core network relies on circuit-switched identities for SMS delivery, then legacy network compatibility is maintained, but device complexity and interworking overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the circuit-switched identity dependency from the core SMS delivery process by introducing a local SMS function that operates independently of circuit-switched networks. This extraction allows the 5G core network to maintain legacy compatibility through the local SMS function's interface capabilities while reducing the overall system complexity by eliminating the need for complex interworking between circuit-switched and packet-switched domains
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the SMS delivery function into a local component (local SMS function in VPLMN) and a home network component (home-routed SMS function). This segmentation allows the local portion to handle SMS delivery independently using simplified procedures, reducing interworking overhead, while the home network portion maintains legacy compatibility requirements
3Ease of operation
If location updates are handled uniformly across all domains, then network management simplicity is maintained, but signaling efficiency deteriorates due to redundant updates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments location update handling into domain-specific procedures. The local SMS function monitors and handles location updates within the VPLMN domain independently, while the home network handles updates in the home domain. This segmentation eliminates redundant location updates across domains, improving signaling efficiency while maintaining network management simplicity through standardized domain-specific procedures
Data Source
AI summary
Various communication systems may benefit from suitable interworking. For example, certain fifth generation short message service systems may benefit from interworking with long term evolution short message service deployments in a visited public land mobile network. A method can include receiving, at a network element, an attach request from a user equipment. The method can also include using an internal policy to find a short message service function that resides at the network element. The method can further include using an address of the short message service function for providing short message service to the user equipment.